Bartonella henselae, B. quintana, and B. bacilliformis: historical pathogens of emerging significance.
Bartonella species were virtually unrecognized as modern pathogens of humans until the last decade. However, identification of Bartonella species as the agents of cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, urban trench fever, and possible novel presentations of Carrion's disease has left little doubt of the emerging medical importance of this genus of organisms. The three primary human pathogenic bartonellae, Bartonella bacilliformis (Carrion's disease), B. henselae (cat-scratch disease), and B. quintana (trench fever), present noteworthy comparisons in the epidemiology, natural history, pathology, and host-microbe interaction that this review will briefly explore.
Karem
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Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Paddock
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Regnery
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D000818:Animals; D001473:Bartonella / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000266:history / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018413:Bartonella quintana / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000266:history / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission