title: Bacterial tick-borne diseases caused by Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia spp. among patients with cataract surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical data have shown that tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia spp. can affect the central nervous system, including the eye. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between the incidence of cataract and evidence of bacterial infections transmitted by ticks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fluid with lenticular masses from inside of the eye and blood from 109 patients were tested by PCR and sequencing. Sera from patients and the control group were subjected to serological tests to search specific antibodies to the bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microbiological analysis revealed the presence of Bartonella sp. DNA in intraoperative specimens from the eye in 1.8% of patients. Serological studies have shown that infections caused by B. burgdorferi sensu lato and Bartonella sp. were detected in 34.8% and 4.6% of patients with cataract surgery, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presence of DNA of yet uncultured and undescribed species of Bartonella in eye liquid indicates past infection with this pathogen. Specific antibodies to B. burgdorferi sensu lato and Bartonella sp. are detected more frequently in patients with cataract compared to the control group. This could indicate a possible role of these organisms in the pathological processes within the eyeball, leading to changes in the lens. Further studies are needed to identify Bartonella species, as well as to recognize the infectious mechanisms involved in cataract development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Rickettsiae, Chlamydiae and Spirochetes, National Institute of Public Heath - National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chmielewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brydak-Godowska
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Rickettsiae, Chlamydiae and Spirochetes, National Institute of Public Heath - National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fiecek
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rorot
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sędrowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Werenowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kopacz
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hevelke
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michniewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kęcik
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Rickettsiae, Chlamydiae and Spirochetes, National Institute of Public Heath - National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisława
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tylewska-Wierzbanowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*; D001473:Bartonella / Q000502:physiology; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000502:physiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000502:physiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*