What are Bartonella elizabethae pathogens?
Bartonella elizabethae pathogens are also known by the former name "Rochalimaea elizabethae". It is a bacterium of the genus Bartonella. Like other Bartonella species, the Bartonella elizabethae pathogen can cause disease in animals. However, the Bartonella elizabethae pathogen is also suspected of causing infectious diseases in dogs and even humans. In particular, endocarditis, neuroretinitis and bacteraemia are thought to be caused by the bacterium. The Bartonella elizabethae pathogen occurs mainly in Asia, but also in Europe, Africa and North America . Fleas have been identified as vectors and rats as reservoirs of the pathogen.
How is the Bartonella elizabethae pathogen transmitted?
The Bartonella elizabethae pathogen is generally transmitted by fleas. However, studies have shown that the pathogen has a relatively high adaptability when changing hosts. Thus, the bacterium could be transferred from rats to shrews, which suggests an inherent ability of the pathogen to use new hosts. Both Bartonella elizabethae pathogens and their closely related strains have been considered as causes of disease in humans. In this context, rats in particular serve as a zoonotic transmission route for human infections.
How could the Bartonella elizabethae pathogen be diagnosed?
The Bartonella elizabethae pathogen was isolated from an HIV-infected person . The diagnosis was made by means of a culture, sera from a rat, a rat, a rat, a rat, a rat. The diagnosis was made using a culture, serological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection. In addition, researchers carried out tests to isolate the bacterium on samples collected from a total of 204 people in New York between 1997 and 1998. The study concluded that positive serological reactions to the Bartonella elizabethae pathogen could be detected in 46 percent of all cases of illness .
What diseases can the Bartonella elizabethae pathogen cause in humans?
The Bartonella elizabethae pathogen can, in rare cases, cause diseases in humans. However, there are still few study results on this , even though infection with this bacterium occurs more frequently than previously assumed. These diseases include endocarditis as well as bacteraemia and neuroretinitis. Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, the so-called endocardium. Endocarditis can occur due to various pathological processes and usually results from the combination of different factors. The main cause of endocarditis is usually a change in blood flow and blood clotting, which can lead to the colonisation of pathogens or the deposition of immune complexes. In the course of endocarditis, destruction of the inner lining of the heart, the heart valves, the papillary muscles and the chordae tendineae (tendon filaments) may occur.
In other cases, the Bartonella elizabethae pathogen could also be identified as the cause of bacteraemia . In bacteraemia, bacteria are present in the bloodstream, which can lead to metastatic infection. The Bartonella elizabthae pathogen has been found primarily in immunocompromised persons, such as HIV patients, but also in cancer patients or people who suffer from chronic infectious diseases .
Neuroretinitis is also suspected to be caused by Bartonella elizabethae pathogens . However, neuroretinitis is a focal inflammation of the optic nerve as well as the peripapillary retina, in which inflammation of the papillary vessels occurs. Studies have found that homeless intravenous drug users from the big cities of the United States, but also in Sweden, are disproportionately affected by Bartonella elizabethae infections.
What are the symptoms of Bartonellosis elizabethae infection in humans?
The symptoms of endocraditis depend on the type of inflammation, but also on the extent of the destruction of the organ. In addition to general signs of infection, there may also be symptoms of valvular or ischaemic heart failure. While a so-called transient bacteraemia is asymptomatic or may cause fever in most cases, the development of other symptoms usually indicates a severe infection, which may cause sepsis or septic shock. In the case of neuroretinitis, the patient may complain of a decrease in central vision as well as a diminished perception of colour. However, neither symptom is accompanied by any pain. Occasionally, neuroretinitis is also asymptomatic.
How can a bartonellosis elizabethae infection be diagnosed in humans?
Persons who have been bitten or scratched by a flea or small animal and show typical symptoms of a Bartonella infection should be examined with regard to a possible infection with the bacterium . Various laboratory tests can be used for this purpose , such as the so-called indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), the Western blots, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH tests) and polymerase chain reaction (PCRs).
How can bartonellosis elizabethae infection be treated in humans?
Bacterial endocarditis is treated with high doses of antibiotics. In particularly acute cases, they can be administered directly via the vein . Depending on the success of the treatment, the dose can be adjusted over time . However, the treatment should be given over a period of at least four to six weeks. Treatment of bacteraemia also involves anti-infective therapy. A bacteraemia that is not treated does not necessarily lead to complications. A person with a healthy immune system can usually get rid of the bacteria themselves. However, after a bacteraemia, the body may become more susceptible to various diseases, as both the immune system and the circulatory system can be weakened by a bacteraemia.
Antibiotics and steroids are usually used to treat neuroretinitis. Steroids are molecules that belong to the fats . They play an important role in the human body. They play an important role in human metabolism and are a component of the cell walls, which is why they also make up the basic structure of various hormones and vitamins