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Hindi Review Article
Neurological Manifestations of Bartonellosis in Immunocompetent Patients: A Composite of Reports from 2005âÂÂ2012
E. B. Breitschwerdt1,* S. Sontakke1,2 and S. Hopkins3
1Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
2Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
3Department of Neurology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- *Corresponding Author:
- E. B. Breitschwerd
Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory
Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational
Research, North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
E-mail: ed breitschwerdt@ncsu.edu
Received Date: 8 October 2012 Revised Date: November 2012 Accepted Date: 4 November 2012
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of Bartonella species have been identified as zoonotic pathogens, transmitted by animal bites, scratches or by arthropods. Although historically the term bartonellosis was attributed to infections with Bartonella bacilliformis, transmitted by sandflies in the Peruvian Andes, a more inclusive medical use of this term now includes infections caused by any Bartonella sp., anywhere in the world. Potentially, because Bartonella spp. can infect erythrocytes, endothelial cells, and various macrophage-type cells, including brain-derived dendritic cells in vitro, the clinical and pathological manifestations of bartonellosis appear to be very diverse. The purpose of this review is to focus attention on neurological bartonellosis cases reported in immunocompetent patients since 2005. Among these patients, disease course has varied substantially in length and severity, including one fatal case of encephalitis in a child. Based upon the evolving literature, a high clinical index of suspicion is warranted.
