[An exceptional case of tricuspid infective endocarditis due to Bartonella henseale revealed by an old pulmonary embolism]

Abstract

We report a case of blood culture-negative tricuspid infective endocarditis revealed after tick bite by repeated pulmonary infection during one year due to septic pulmonary emboli in a 67-year-old farmer woman. Tricuspid vegetation and pulmonary emboli are calcified. Lyme serology is negative. Serologic test and PCR analysis are positive to Bartonella henselae. The evolution is favorable after antibiotic and anticoagulant treatment. Infective endocarditis due to B. henselae is an exceptional complication of cat scratch disease. You have to think about in case of blood culture-negative endocarditis with calcified valvular lesions even without cat bite, tick seems to be vector of the bacteria.

Keywords: Bartonella henselae; Cat scratch disease; Embolie pulmonaire; Endocardite infectieuse; Endocarditis; Maladie des griffes du chat; Piqûre de tique; Pulmonary embolism.