Bartonella spp.: throwing light on uncommon human infections.
After 2 decades of Bartonella research, knowledge on transmission and pathology of these bacteria is still limited. Bartonella spp. have emerged to be important pathogens in human and veterinary medicine. For humans, B. henselae is considered to represent the most relevant zoonotic Bartonella species and is responsible for cat scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, and other disorders. Over the years, many Bartonella species have been isolated from humans, cats, dogs, and other mammals, and infections range from an asymptomatic state (e.g., animal-specific species) to even life-threatening diseases (e.g., Oroya fever). It is obvious that the analysis of pathogenicity mechanisms underlying Bartonella infections is needed to increase our understanding of how these pathogens adapt to their mammalian hosts resulting in acute or chronic diseases.
Kaiser
Patrick O
PO
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Krankenhaushygiene, Universitätsklinikum, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Paul Ehrlich-Str. 40, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Riess
Tanja
T
O'Rourke
Fiona
F
Linke
Dirk
D
Kempf
Volkhard A J
VA
D000818:Animals; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001473:Bartonella / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*