Bartonella quintana in human erythrocytes.
Bartonella quintana is transmitted by body lice among homeless people. Infection with this organism leads to chronic bacteraemia with few symptoms. We looked for B quintana in erythrocytes in a population of homeless people in Marseille, France. In this report we show the intraerythrocytic presence of B quintana in people with symptomless bacteraemia, by use of a specific monoclonal antibody and laser confocal microscopy. Presence of at least 5 x 10(4) colony-forming units per mL was predictive of intracellular infection. However, such infection was not associated with evidence of haemolysis. Colonisation of erythrocytes could allow efficient transmission of B quintana by body lice.
Unité des Rickettsies CNRS UPRES-A 6020, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France.
Jean-Marc
JM
Rolain
Cédric
C
Foucault
Régis
R
Guieu
Bernard
B
La Scola
Philippe
P
Brouqui
Didier
D
Raoult
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D018413:Bartonella quintana / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans