Bartonella henselae
| Bartonella henselae | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Proteobacteria |
| Class: | Alpha Proteobacteria |
| Order: | Rhizobiales |
| Family: | Bartonellaceae |
| Genus: | Bartonella |
| Species: | B. henselae |
| Binomial name | |
| Bartonella henselae (Regnery et al. 1992) |
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Bartonella henselae, formerly Rochalimæa, is a proteobacterium that can cause bacteremia, endocarditis, bacillary angiomatosis, and peliosis hepatis. It is also the causative agent of cat-scratch disease[1] (Bartonellosis) which, as the name suggests, occurs after a cat bite or scratch. The disease is characterized by lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes) and fever.
Peliosis hepatis caused by B. henselae can occur alone or develop with cutaneous bacillary angiomatosis or bacteremia. Patients with peliosis hepatitis present with gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, chills, and an enlarged liver and spleen containing blood-filled cavities. This systemic disease can be seen in patients infected with HIV, or serve as a co-infection of those who have contracted Lyme disease etc., and other immunocompromised individuals.
Bartonella henselae is a member of the class of the Bartonella genus, one of the most common type of bacteria in the world.
The presence of bacteria can be detected by a special stain called Warthin-Starry stain.
[edit] Treatment
Bartonella henselae (cat scratch disease) infections are usually self-limiting, but can be treated with azithromycin or doxycycline.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Jerris RC, Regnery RL (1996). "Will the real agent of cat-scratch disease please stand up?". Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 50: 707–25. doi:10.1146/annurev.micro.50.1.707. PMID 8905096.
- ^ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213169-treatment
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