Abstract
Bartonella bacilliformis is the etiologic agent of Carrion's disease. This disease has two well established phases, the most relevant being the so called Oroya Fever, in which B. bacilliformis infect the erythrocytes resulting in severe anemia and transient immunosuppression, with a high lethality in the absence of adequate antibiotic treatment. The presence of B. bacilliformis was studied in 113 blood samples suspected of Carrion’s disease based on clinical criteria, despite the absence of a positive thin blood smear, by two different PCR techniques (using Bartonella-specific and universal 16S rRNA gene primers), and by bacterial culture. The specific 16S rRNA gene primers revealed the presence of 21 B. bacilliformis and 1 Bartonella elizabethae, while universal primers showed both the presence of 3 coinfections in which a concomitant pathogen was detected plus Bartonella, in addition to the presence of infections by other microorganisms such as Agrobacterium or Bacillus firmus. These data support the need to implement molecular tools to diagnose Carrion’s disease.
Highlights
IntroductionAt least 9 of these microorganisms have been associated with infectious diseases in humans and some, such as Bartonella bacilliformis, Bartonella quintana or Bartonella henselae have been fully identified as causative agents of disease [1,2]
The genus Bartonella includes at least 24 different species of bacteria
Two well established phases have been described in this disease, the first being the acute phase, the socalled Oroya Fever, in which B. bacilliformis microorganisms infect the erythrocytes resulting in severe anemia and transient immunosuppression [3,4] which may result in death in the absence or delay of adequate treatment
Summary
At least 9 of these microorganisms have been associated with infectious diseases in humans and some, such as Bartonella bacilliformis, Bartonella quintana or Bartonella henselae have been fully identified as causative agents of disease [1,2]. B. bacilliformis are Gram-negative cocco bacilli which infects red blood cells and endothelial cells, being the etiologic agent of Bartonellosis known as Carrion’s disease, which is a biphasic disorder. Two well established phases have been described in this disease, the first being the acute phase, the socalled Oroya Fever, in which B. bacilliformis microorganisms infect the erythrocytes resulting in severe anemia and transient immunosuppression [3,4] which may result in death in the absence or delay of adequate treatment. Asymptomatic carriers have been described in endemic areas
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