Bartonella infection associated with rheumatoid illnesses in humans
- Date:
- April 23, 2012
- Source:
- North Carolina State University
- Summary:
- A bacterium historically associated with cat scratch fever and transmitted predominately by fleas may also play a role in human rheumatoid illnesses such as arthritis, according to new research.
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A bacterium historically associated with cat scratch fever and transmitted predominately by fleas may also play a role in human rheumatoid illnesses such as arthritis, according to new research from North Carolina State University.
Bartonella is a bacterium that is maintained in nature by fleas, ticks and other biting insects. It can be transmitted to humans both by these parasites as well as by bites or scratches from infected cats and dogs. The most commonly knownBartonella-related illness is cat scratch disease, caused byB. henselae, a species ofBartonella that can be carried in a cat's blood for months to years.
In collaboration with Dr. Robert Mozayeni, a rheumatologist based in Maryland, and Dr. Ricardo Maggi, a research assistant professor at NC State, Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt, professor of internal medicine at NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine and adjunct professor of medicine at Duke University, tested blood samples from 296 patients for evidence ofBartonella infection. The patients had previously been diagnosed with conditions ranging from Lyme disease to arthritis to chronic fatigue. Since rheumatic symptoms have sometimes been reported following cat scratch disease, the researchers wanted to see if these patients tested positive forB. henselae.
Of the 296 patients, 62 percent hadBartonella antibodies, which supported prior exposure to these bacteria. Bacterial DNA was found in 41 percent of patient samples, allowing investigators to narrow the species ofBartonella present, withB. henselae,B. kohlerae andB. vinsonii subsp.berkhoffii the most prevalent. The study appears inEmerging Infectious Diseases.
"Based upon this one study we can't definitively say that a subset of rheumatoid illnesses have an infectious origin," Breitschwerdt says. "However, our results thus far do implicateBartonella as a factor in at least some cases. If the link betweenBartonella and rheumatoid illnesses is valid, it may also open up more directed treatment options for patients with rheumatoid illnesses."
Story Source:
Materials provided byNorth Carolina State University.Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
- Ricardo G. Maggi, B. Robert Mozayeni, Elizabeth L. Pultorak, Barbara C. Hegarty, Julie M. Bradley, Maria Correa, Edward B. Breitschwerdt.Bartonellaspp. Bacteremia and Rheumatic Symptoms in Patients from Lyme Disease–endemic Region.Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2012; 18 (5) DOI:10.3201/eid1805.111366
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