Bartonella sp. bacteremia in patients with neurological and neurocognitive dysfunction.
We detected infection with a Bartonella species (B. henselae or B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii) in blood samples from six immunocompetent patients who presented with a chronic neurological or neurocognitive syndrome including seizures, ataxia, memory loss, and/or tremors. Each of these patients had substantial animal contact or recent arthropod exposure as a potential risk factor for Bartonella infection. Additional studies should be performed to clarify the potential role of Bartonella spp. as a cause of chronic neurological and neurocognitive dysfunction.
Breitschwerdt
E B
EB
College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. ed_breitschwerdt@ncsu.edu
Maggi
R G
RG
Nicholson
W L
WL
Cherry
N A
NA
Woods
C W
CW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001473:Bartonella; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D018416:Bartonella henselae; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult