title: [Persistent Bartonella infection: epidemiological and clinical implications].
abstract: Bartonella are Gram-negative hemotropic bacteria that infect a wide range of mammals. At least 14 Bartonella species or subspecies have been reported to be pathogenic for humans and animals. Wild and domestic animals represent a large reservoir. Reservoir species usually display chronic bacteremia. This explains some aspects of the epidemiology of these infections, and especially vector-borne transmission. The molecular mechanisms of persistent infection have clinical consequences both for occasional hosts and for human and animal reservoirs. An increasing number of clinical cases are being described in reservoir species that were previously considered to remain asymptomatic.
authors.affiliation: UMR BIPAR ENVA/AFSSA/INRA/UPVM Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 avenue du Gal de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort. hjboulouis@vet-alfort.fr
authors.forename: Henri-Jean
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Boulouis
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vayssier-Taussat
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maillard
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chomel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D001473:Bartonella / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D002415:Cats; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006801:Humans; D015047:Zoonoses