Bartonella henselae
Species of bacterium
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Key Takeaways
- Bartonella henselae , formerly Rochalimæa henselae , is a bacterium that is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease (bartonellosis).
- Bartonella henselae is a member of the genus Bartonella , one of the most common types of bacteria in the world.
- In the United States, about 20,000 cases are diagnosed each year, most under 15 years old.
- Higher prevalence is reported in warm, humid climates where flea infestations are more common.
- 1953), a clinical microbiology technologist at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, who collected numerous strains and samples of the infective agent during an outbreak in Oklahoma in 1985.
Bartonella henselae, formerly Rochalimæa henselae, is a bacterium that is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease (bartonellosis). It primarily infects red blood cells and endothelial cells and is transmitted to humans through scratches, bites, or flea vectors associated with domestic and feral cats.
Bartonella henselae is a member of the genus Bartonella, one of the most common types of bacteria in the world. It is a facultative intracellular microbe that targets red blood cells. In the United States, about 20,000 cases are diagnosed each year, most under 15 years old. Most often, it is transmitted by scratches or bites from kittens. Higher prevalence is reported in warm, humid climates where flea infestations are more common.
History
The specific name henselae honors Diane Marie Hensel (b. 1953), a clinical microbiology technologist at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, who collected numerous strains and samples of the infective agent during an outbreak in Oklahoma in 1985.
Etiology
Bartonella henselae is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that invades endothelial and red blood cells. One study showed Bartonella henselae invaded the mature blood cells of humans. It infects the host cell by sticking to it using trimeric autotransporter adhesins.
Diagnosis
Bartonella henselae is a Gram-negative rod. It can be cultured in a lysis-centrifugation blood culture. The presence of bacteria can be detected by Warthin-Starry stain, or by a similar silver stain technique performed on infected tissue. A pan-Bartonella PCR detection is non-invasive and uses blood or biopsies to diagnose.
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