[Bartonella henselae and its infections]

Abstract

In recent years the number of identified Bartonella species has increased rapidly and several species in Bartonella genus isolated from various mammalian reservoirs were recognized as zoonotic agents in humans. Three Bartonella species are considered to be pathogenic for humans; B. henselae, B. quintana and B. bacilliformis. B. henselae causes asymptomatic intraerythrocytic bacteraemia in the feline reservoir host and is the most important zoonotic species as the cause of human diseases including cat scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, bacteraemia, endocarditis and neurological disorders. In this review article general characteristics of B. henselae, infection types and clinical features, laboratory diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures have been discussed.