Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana infections in Poland in 1998-2001

Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana infections result in illnesses with symptoms of severity ranging from mild lymphadenopathy (CSD) to systemic disease. The aim of the study was to estimate a prevalence of B. henselae and B. quintana infections in human in Poland. Serum samples collected from 265 patients in 1998-2001 were tested for the presence of antibodies specific to B. henselae and B. quintana. Levels of serum IgM and IgG antibodies to Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana were measured with indirect microimmunofluorescence test (MRL Diagnostic, USA). Cats' sera were assessed with indirect microimmunofluorescence test (MRL Diagnostic, USA) and goat immune serum anti-cat IgG FITC conjugate (Sigma, USA). Bartonella henselae specific antibodies were detected in 146 (57.0%) patients with lymphadenopathy. From that number 11.3% have shown specific Bartonella henselae IgM serum antibodies. Bartonella quintana infection was detected with serological methods in 4 patients. It has been found that CSD is a seasonal infection, with most cases occurring in autumn. Most cases of the disease have been recognized in children 8-16 years old. Most of CSD cases (30.1%) were detected in Mazowieckie voivodeship. There were no cases of CSD in Pomorskie, Podkarpackie, Lubuskie and Opolskie voivodeship. The seroprevalence of Bartonella sp. infections in cats was estimated on 86% (31/36). The highest titer of specific Bartonella henselae antibodies detected in cats was 1024. The number of detected Bartonella henselae infections in Poland is very low. It is very probable that the number of cases is underestimated in our country. Cat scratch disease is the most frequently clinically and serologically identified bartonellosis.     

Survey of tickborne infections in Denmark

We conducted a study of the distribution and prevalence of tickborne infections in Denmark by using roe deer as sentinels. Blood samples from 237 roe deer were collected during the 2002-2003 hunting season. Overall, 36.6% of deer were Borrelia seropositive, while 95.6% were Anaplasma phagocytophilum positive; all animals were negative for Bartonella quintana and B. henselae by indirect immunofluorescence assay. When a hemagglutination-inhibition test was used, 8.7% of deer were found positive for tickborne encephalitis (TBE)-complex virus. A total of 42.6% were found positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for A. phagocytophilum with significant seasonal variation. All were PCR negative for Rickettsia helvetica. PCR and sequencing also showed a novel bacterium in roe deer previously only found in ticks. The study showed that the emerging pathogen A. phagocytophilum is widely distributed and that a marked shift has occurred in the distribution of TBE-complex virus in Denmark. This finding supports studies that predict alterations in distribution due to climatic changes.     

Human pathogens in body and head lice

Using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, we investigated the prevalence of Rickettsia prowazekii, Bartonella quintana, and Borrelia recurrentis in 841 body lice collected from various countries. We detected R. prowazekii in body lice from Burundi in 1997 and in lice from Burundi and Rwanda in 2001; B. quintana infections of body lice were widespread. We did not detect B. recurrentis in any lice.     

A “Silent Culture-Negative” Abdominal Aortic Mycotic Aneurysm: Rapid Detection of Bartonella Species Using PCR and High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry

A gram-negative, rod-shaped microorganism was detected in a 69-year-old man suffering from chronic back pain but otherwise exhibiting no signs of infection. The bacterium could not be identified using any routine diagnostic modality. A research use only application utilizing PCR and Mass Spectrometry^* was performed on nucleic acid extracted from the tissue sample. These studies resulted in the implication of Bartonella quintana as the underlying cause of the infection. B. quintana is not a well-known cause of an abdominal aortic mycotic aneurysm. This article will discuss the B. quintana infection, its diagnosis and treatment, and reinforce the potential of B. quintana as a possible etiology in mycotic aneurysms that show no apparent indications of infection. It will also explore the potential use of polymerase chain reaction detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ ESI-MS) to help identify B. quintana in a situation where other conventional methods prove non-informative.     

Altitude-dependent Bartonella quintana genotype C in head lice, Ethiopia

To determine the presence of Bartonella quintana in head and body lice from persons in different locations in Ethiopia, we used molecular methods. B. quintana was found in 19 (7%) genotype C head lice and in 76 (18%) genotype A body lice. B. quintana in head lice was positively linked to altitude (p = 0.014).     

Bartonella quintana and Rickettsia felis in Gabon

We detected Rickettsia felis DNA in Ctenocephalides felis and Bartonella quintana DNA in 3 Pulex irritans fleas taken from a pet Cercopithecus cephus monkey in Gabon, sub-Saharan Africa. This is the first report of B. quintana in the human flea.     

成都地区急性呼吸道感染病例人偏肺病毒感染状况研究

[目的]了解成都地区急性呼吸道感染病例中偏肺病毒的感染情况,并对其临床特点进行初步分析。[方法]2010年7月～2011年3月,采集成都市3家哨点医院门、急诊和住院呼吸道感染病例标本302份,收集相关临床资料;采用多重RT-PCR方法,对302份呼吸道标本检测包括偏肺病毒在内的9种呼吸道病毒核酸。[结果]302份标本中检出阳性标本72份,核酸阳性率为23.84%(72/302),偏肺病毒检出率最高,为5.30%(16/302);男、女性别间以及各年龄组hMPV检出率差异无统计学意义,≤5岁年龄组hMPV检出率最高,为8.67%(13/150);临床诊断为支气管肺炎和肺炎的比例最高,84.62%(11/13)的病例为5岁以下儿童;3月份为偏肺病毒检出高峰,达10.26%(4/39)。[结论]偏肺病毒是引起成都地区发热呼吸道病毒感染的主要病原体,也是引起儿童严重急性呼吸道病毒感染的主要病原之一。     

Bartonella spp. in pets and effect on human health

Among the many mammals infected with Bartonella spp., pets represent a large reservoir for human infection because most Bartonella spp. infecting them are zoonotic. Cats are the main reservoir for Bartonella henselae, B. clarridgeiae, and B. koehlerae. Dogs can be infected with B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae, B. washoensis, B. elizabethae, and B. quintana. The role of dogs as an important reservoir of Bartonella spp. is less clear than for cats because domestic dogs are more likely to be accidental hosts, at least in nontropical regions. Nevertheless, dogs are excellent sentinels for human infections because a similar disease spectrum develops in dogs. Transmission of B. henselae by cat fleas is better understood, although new potential vectors (ticks and biting flies) have been identified. We review current knowledge on the etiologic agents, clinical features, and epidemiologic characteristics of these emerging zoonoses.     

Bartonella quintana infections in captive monkeys, China

Bartonella quintana has been considered to be specifically adapted to humans. Our isolation of the organism from 2 of 36 captive rhesus macaques in China and finding antibodies against B. quintana in 12 of 33 indicates that the reservoir hosts of B. quintana may include primates other than humans.     

六安市2012年手足口病病原学监测结果分析

目的分析2012年六安市手足口病的病原构成情况,为科学防治手足口病提供实验室依据。方法对2012年六安市各县区疾控中心送检的271份手足口病病例的咽拭子标本,用RT-PCR进行肠道病毒71型（Enterovirus 71,EV71）、柯萨奇病毒A组16型（Cox A16）和其它及肠道病毒核酸检测。结果 2012年全年共检测手足口病病例标本271份,检出人肠道病毒核酸阳性132份,总阳性率为48.71%。其中EV71核酸阳性82份,占62.12%;Cox A16核酸阳性28份,占21.21%;非EV71、非Cox A16的其他肠道病毒核酸阳性22份,占16.67%。132份阳性标本中4岁以下113份,占85.61%。病原检测阳性率在1月、5月和9月出现3次高峰。结论 2012年六安市手足口病最主要病原为EV71,4岁以下儿童为主要易感人群,应加强对4岁以下儿童手足口病的病原学监测。     

Bartonella quintana in domestic cat

We recovered Bartonella quintana DNA from dental pulp of a domestic cat. This study, the first to detect B. quintana in a nonhuman mammal, changes our understanding of the epidemiology of this infection and proposes that cats may be an emerging source of human infection.     

2012 - 2014年平顶山市手足口病聚集性疫情病原学分析

摘要:目的 了解2012 - 2014年平顶山市手足口病聚集性疫情的病原学特征,为聚集性疫情防控提供依据。方法 采用实时荧光RT-PCR的方法对聚集性疫情标本进行检测,对检测结果进行描述性分析。结果 2012 - 2014年共对平顶山市76起手足口病聚集性疫情的195份标本进行了检测,阳性69起,阳性检出率90.79%,单一病原感染60起,混合病原感染9起,单一病原EV71感染最多（39起）,占56.52%。不同年份间病原构成差异有统计学意义（χ2=23.13,P=0.001）。高峰期和低峰期优势病原均为EV71。除石龙区外,其他9个县（市、区）的聚集性疫情均有阳性检出,且优势病原均为EV71。不同类型聚集性疫情单一、混合感染均有检出,且均以EV71感染为主。不同疫情规模均有混合感染发生。不同病原间疫情持续时间差异无统计学意义（F =1.38,P=0.256）。结论 平顶山市要加强手足口病聚集性疫情病原学监测,加大采样力度,有效控制聚集性疫情的发生。     

Bartonella quintana endocarditis in dogs

We provide the first evidence that Bartonella quintana can infect dogs and cause typical signs of endocarditis. Using PCR and sequencing, we identified B. quintana in the blood of a dog from the United States with aortic valve endocarditis and probably also in the mitral valve of a dog from New Zealand with endocarditis.     

The essence of infection by opportunistic microorganisms

Infection is regarded as an imbalance between microbial pathogenicity factors and the host defense systems. Opportunistic infections are defined as infections rarely observed in humans with normal immune responses. The term immunocompromised (compromised) host refers to host in which one or more defence mechanisms are inactive and in which the probability of infection is therefore increased. Hospital patients are often compromised host. Compromised hosts exist even outside the hospital (smoking, intravenous drug use, poor nutrition and other). A good example is HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by destroying the CD4 T lymphocytes, involved in the immune response. The most common AIDS-associated opportunistic infections include pneumonia caused by the fungus Pneumocystis carinii, systemic candidiasis (Candida albicans) and cryptococcosis (Cryptococcus neoformans), protozoal infections such as cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium spp.) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii), viral infections due to HSV, CMV, EBV, HPV or HHV8, tuberculosis and other bacterial infections. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common opportunistic disease observed in AIDS patients. Disease does not necessarily follow exposure to a given causal agent (pathogen 01 opportunistic pathogen). In fact, the occurrence (or otherwise) of disease typically depends on various factors--including the degree of sensitivity of the host (as above) and the virulence factors of the pathogens. Overtly aggressive products such as toxins and aggressins are clearly virulence factors. However, so too are those products and strategies which help a pathogen to become established in the host and to evade the host's defences. Certain virulence factors can be induced in the pathogen via signal transduction pathways from environment.     

Enterocin CRL35 inhibits Listeria monocytogenes in a murine model

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen causative of opportunistic infections. Listeriosis is associated with severe infections in pregnant women causing abortion or neonatal listeriosis. An alternative to antibiotics are safe novel bacteriocins peptides such as enterocin CRL35 with strong antilisterial activity produced by Enterococcus mundtii CRL35. In the present paper, our goal is to study the effectiveness of this peptide and the producer strain in a murine model of pregnancy-associated listeriosis. A single dose of 5×10(9) colony-forming unit of L. monocytogenes FBUNT (Faculty of Biochemistry-University of Tucumán) resulted in translocation of pathogen to liver and spleen of BALB/c pregnant mice. The maximum level of Listeria was observed on day 3 postinfection. Interestingly, the intragastric administration of enterocin CRL35 significantly reduced the translocation of the pathogen to vital organs. On the other hand, the preadministration of E. mundtii CRL35 slightly inhibited this translocation. Listeria infection caused a significant increase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes at day 3 postinfection compared to the noninfected group. This value was reduced after the administration of enterocin CRL35. No significant changes were observed in either white blood cells or lymphocytes counts. Based on the data presented in the present work enterocin CRL35 would be a promising alternative for the prevention of Listeria infections.     

Bartonella quintana in cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)

We identified a Bartonella quintana strain by polymerase chain reaction amplification, cloning, and sequencing of DNA extracted from lysed erythrocytes and cultured colonies grown from peripheral blood collected from a captive-bred cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). This report describes naturally acquired B. quintana infection in a nonhuman primate.     

综合性ICU医院感染的调查分析及感染管理

目的 分析综合性ICU医院感染的流行病学及病原菌耐药性,为临床防治医院感染提供依据,并探讨有效的感染管理措施,预防和控制耐药菌的传播.方法 对医院综合性ICU 2010年1-12月所有分离的病原菌及其耐药性进行回顾性调查分析.结果 医院感染中仍以革兰阴性菌为主,占53.6％,其中以铜绿假单胞菌最多,占17.1％;革兰阳性球菌占34.1％,以金黄色葡萄球菌为主,占16.5％,其中94.3％为耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA);真菌占12.3％;药敏试验显示,各菌株耐药水平均较高.结论 ICU医院感染仍以革兰阴性菌为主,但革兰阳性菌及真菌已成为重要致病菌,且耐药率明显升高;应加强ICU感染管理和病原菌耐药性的监测,合理使用抗菌药物,制定有效对策,降低医院感染的发生.     

Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Bartonella quintana

We describe the first case of Bartonella quintana endocarditis affecting a prosthetic valve in a person with no known risk factors for this infection. Bartonella should be considered as a cause of endocarditis in any clinical setting.     

Epidemiology and prevention of pediatric viral respiratory infections in health-care institutions

Nosocomial viral respiratory infections cause considerable illness and death on pediatric wards. Common causes of these infections include respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. Although primarily a community pathogen, rhinovirus also occasionally results in hospitalization and serious sequelae. This article reviews effective infection control interventions for these three pathogens, as well as ongoing controversies.     

Summary of the 'Urinary tract infections' guideline (first revision) of the Dutch College of General Practitioners

The important changes in the Dutch College of General Practitioners' revised guideline on urinary tract infections, with respect to the first edition, are as follows: In assessing a urine sediment the leucocyte count has been omitted due to its low specificity. In the case of a negative nitrite test, the number of bacteria is of diagnostic importance. If a microscopic count is difficult to carry out, a semi-quantitative culture with a dip-slide is a good alternative. In the case of uncomplicated urinary tract infections, nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim are the preferred antibiotics, whereas for pregnant women nitrofurantoin and amoxicillin without clavulanic acid should be used. The most important pathogen is often resistant to sulphonamides. In the case of complicated urinary tract infections, characterised by fever, and a still unknown sensitivity of the pathogen, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is recommended except in the case of pregnant women. The usefulness of tracing and treating pregnant women with asymptomatic bacteriuria has yet to be demonstrated.