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Pathogens
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The Expanding Clinical Spectrum of Bartonelloses
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The Expanding Clinical Spectrum of Bartonelloses

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 10892

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Edward B. Breitschwerdt

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Guest Editor
Professor of Internal Medicine, Vector Borne Disease Diagnostics, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
Interests: animal and human bartonellosis; infectious diseases; immunology; nephrology; vector-transmitted; intracellular pathogens; neuropsychiatric illness and rheumatological presentations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Previously, Pathogens sponsored a very successful Special Issue entitled “The Evolving Biomedical Importance of Bartonella Species Infections”. Our sincerest thanks go to those researchers who shared their work as part of the Pathogens Special Issue. Clearly, as reflected in the publications figure above, the scientific and medical interest in this genus continues to progressively increase.

Following a very successful 10th International Conference on Bartonella as emerging pathogens in Lima, Peru in November 2022, “Bartonella meets Borrelia” will be the theme of the 11th International Conference on Bartonella as emerging pathogens that will be held in Germany in fall of 2024 (exact date and location to be determined). It is perhaps fitting that these two vector-transmitted genera are the focus of the next International Conference on Bartonella as emerging pathogens, as both genera share diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive challenges for researchers and patients around the world.

The genus Bartonella comprises fastidious Gram-negative, slow-growing, and facultative intracellular bacteria belonging to the Alpha-2 subgroup of the class Proteobacteria, Order Rhizobiales. These microorganisms are most often transmitted to humans through animal bites or scratches (cats, dogs, and other animals), by scratch inoculation of infected flea or body louse feces into the skin, and potentially by bites of other vectors including ants, biting flies, keds, mites, spiders, and ticks. Prior to the HIV epidemic in the early 1990s, Bartonella species were not known to have infected animals or humans in North America or throughout much of the world. Currently, at least 45 Bartonella species or subspecies have been characterized, of which 17 Bartonella species have been implicated in zoonotic infections in humans. It is now clear that these bacteria are globally important but remain medically underappreciated emerging pathogens impacting animal and human health. The increasing number of animal reservoir hosts known to be infected with various Bartonella species, in conjunction with the increasing number of competent or suspected arthropod vectors, makes this genus of substantial clinical and biomedical importance to microbiologists, diagnosticians, physicians, vector biologists, and veterinarians. The expanding spectrum of longstanding and complex cardiovascular, dermatologic, neurological, and rheumatologic disease manifestations makes this genus substantially important to patients. Hopefully, this Special Issue can provide new and important information relative to the biomedical importance of the genus Bartonella.

Prof. Dr. Edward B. Breitschwerdt
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • epidemiology
  • microbiology
  • medicine
  • vector biology
  • bartonelloses

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 768 KiB  
Article
PCR Detection of Bartonella spp. and Borreliella spp. DNA in Dry Blood Spot Samples from Human Patients
by Kerry L. Clark and Shirley Hartman
Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 727; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090727 - 28 Aug 2024
Viewed by 3645
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States. Bartonella constitute an additional zoonotic pathogen whose public health impact and diversity continue to emerge. Rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of these and other vector-borne pathogens remains challenging, especially for [...] Read more.
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States. Bartonella constitute an additional zoonotic pathogen whose public health impact and diversity continue to emerge. Rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of these and other vector-borne pathogens remains challenging, especially for patients with persistent infections. This report describes an approach for DNA extraction and PCR testing for the detection of Bartonella spp. and Borreliella spp. from dry blood spot (DBS) specimens from human patients. The present study included extraction of DNA and PCR testing of DBS samples from 105 patients with poorly defined, chronic symptoms labeled as Lyme-Like Syndromic Illness (LLSI). Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in 20/105 (19%) and Borreliella spp. DNA was detected in 41/105 (39%) patients with LLSI. Neither group of organisms was detected in DBS samples from 42 healthy control subjects. Bartonella spp. 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer sequences were highly similar to ones previously identified in yellow flies, lone star ticks, a human patient from Florida, mosquitoes in Europe, or B. apihabitans and choladocola strains from honeybees. These human strains may represent new genetic strains or groups of human pathogenic species of Bartonella. The 41 Borreliella spp. flaB gene sequences obtained from human patients suggested the presence of four different species, including B. burgdorferi, B. americana, B. andersonii, and B. bissettiae/carolinensis-like strains. These results suggest that specific aspects of the DBS DNA extraction and PCR approach enabled the detection of Bartonella spp. and Borreliella spp. DNA from very small amounts of human whole blood from some patients, including specimens stored on filter paper for 17 years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Expanding Clinical Spectrum of Bartonelloses)
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5 pages, 193 KiB  
Communication
Pradofloxacin for Treatment of Bartonella henselae in Experimentally Inoculated Cats
by Michael R. Lappin and Ronan Fitzgerald
Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040336 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1566
Abstract
Bartonella henselae is associated with numerous clinical syndromes in people. Cats are the definitive hosts for B. henselae, develop high levels of bacteremia, and are associated with human infections, particularly in the presence of Ctenocephalides felis. Several antibiotic protocols used for [...] Read more.
Bartonella henselae is associated with numerous clinical syndromes in people. Cats are the definitive hosts for B. henselae, develop high levels of bacteremia, and are associated with human infections, particularly in the presence of Ctenocephalides felis. Several antibiotic protocols used for the treatment of B. henselae infection in cats have failed to clear bacteremia. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a high-dose pradofloxacin protocol to eliminate B. henselae bacteremia. Bartonella henselae infection was initiated in 8 cats by intravenous inoculation of infected feline blood and then pradofloxacin was administered at 7.5 mg/kg, PO, twice daily for 28 days, starting 12 weeks after inoculation. Complete blood cell counts were performed prior to pradofloxacin administration and then every 2 weeks for 10 weeks. Bartonella PCR assay was performed prior to pradofloxacin administration and approximately every 2 weeks for 10 weeks and then weekly for 4 weeks. Methylprednisolone acetate (5 mg/kg) was administered by intramuscular injection to all cats on week 10. The cats remained normal and none developed a hematocrit, platelet count, lymphocyte count, or neutrophil count outside of the normal reference ranges. In the one month prior to pradofloxacin administration, all cats were PCR-positive for Bartonella DNA on at least two of four sample dates; after pradofloxacin administration, all cats were negative for B. henselae DNA in blood on all nine sample dates. The protocol appears to be safe and failure to amplify B. henselae DNA from the blood after the administration of pradofloxacin and one dose of methylprednisolone acetate suggests either an antibiotic effect or the organism was cleared spontaneously. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Expanding Clinical Spectrum of Bartonelloses)
8 pages, 472 KiB  
Communication
Evidence for Bartonella quintana in Lice Collected from the Clothes of Ethiopian Homeless Individuals
by Tafese Beyene Tufa, Gabriele Margos, Volker Fingerle, Christine Hartberger, Sven Poppert, Richard J. Birtles, Peter Kraiczy, Volkhard A. J. Kempf, Hagen Frickmann and Torsten Feldt
Pathogens 2023, 12(11), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111299 - 30 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1297
Abstract
Human lice, Pediculus humanus, can transmit various pathogens, including Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii. Xenosurveillance is an epidemiological approach to assessing human infection risks performed by screening vectors of infectious disease agents. In the proof-of-principle study reported [...] Read more.
Human lice, Pediculus humanus, can transmit various pathogens, including Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii. Xenosurveillance is an epidemiological approach to assessing human infection risks performed by screening vectors of infectious disease agents. In the proof-of-principle study reported herein, the DNA of 23 human lice was collected from the clothes of 30 homeless Ethiopian individuals. These samples were assessed using 16S rRNA gene-specific pan-eubacterial PCR for screening, followed by Bartonella genus 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence-specific PCR, Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR, and 16S rRNA gene PCR with specificity for relapsing-fever-associated Borrelia spp. with subsequent sequencing of the amplicons. In one sample, the pan-eubacterial 16S rRNA gene-specific screening PCR, the Bartonella genus 16S-23S ITS sequence-specific PCR, and the Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR allowed for the sequencing of B. quintana-specific amplicons. In two additional samples, Bartonella genus gltA gene-specific PCR also provided sequences showing 100% sequence identity with B. quintana. In total, 3/23 (13.0%) of the assessed lice were found to be positive for B. quintana. Correlating clinical data were not available; however, the assessment confirmed the presence of B. quintana in the local louse population and thus an associated infection pressure. Larger-sized cross-sectional studies seem advisable to more reliably quantify the infection risk of lice-infested local individuals. The need for prevention by providing opportunities to maintain standard hygiene for Ethiopian homeless individuals is stressed by the reported findings, especially in light of the ongoing migration of refugees. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Expanding Clinical Spectrum of Bartonelloses)
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20 pages, 2998 KiB  
Article
Viability and Desiccation Resistance of Bartonella henselae in Biological and Non-Biological Fluids: Evidence for Pathogen Environmental Stability
by Janice C. Bush, Ricardo G. Maggi and Edward B. Breitschwerdt
Pathogens 2023, 12(7), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12070950 - 18 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3753
Abstract
Pathogen environmental stability is an often-neglected research priority for pathogens that are known to be vector-transmitted. Bartonella henselae, the etiologic agent of Cat Scratch Disease, has become a “pathogen of interest” in several serious human illnesses, which include neoplastic, cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and [...] Read more.
Pathogen environmental stability is an often-neglected research priority for pathogens that are known to be vector-transmitted. Bartonella henselae, the etiologic agent of Cat Scratch Disease, has become a “pathogen of interest” in several serious human illnesses, which include neoplastic, cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and rheumatologic conditions. Survival in the flea gut and feces as well as the association with a biofilm in culture-negative endocarditis provides insight into this organism’s ability to adjust to environmental extremes. The detection of B. henselae DNA in blood and tissues from marine mammals also raises questions about environmental stability and modes of pathogen transmission. We investigated the ability of B. henselae to survive in fluid matrices chosen to mimic potential environmental sources of infective materials. Feline whole blood, serum and urine, bovine milk, and physiologic saline inoculated with a laboratory strain of B. henselae San Antonio 2 were subsequently evaluated by culture and qPCR at specified time intervals. Bacterial viability was also assessed following desiccation and reconstitution of each inoculated fluid matrix. Bartonella henselae SA2 was cultured from feline urine up to 24 h after inoculation, and from blood, serum, cow’s milk, and physiologic saline for up to 7 days after inoculation. Of potential medical importance, bacteria were cultured following air-desiccation of all fluid inoculates. The viability and stability of Bartonella within biological and non-biological fluids in the environment may represent a previously unrecognized source of infection for animals and human beings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Expanding Clinical Spectrum of Bartonelloses)
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