One Health principles draw the connections between human, animal and environmental health. It wasn’t so long ago that the heroic work of a veterinary pathologist at a zoo connected the deaths of wild urban animals and zoo animals to the deaths of New York residents from the newly introduced West Nile Virus. Monitoring of animals […]
Ruminant Bartonella species: What are they? Are they harmful?
Bartonella species are bacteria present in wild and domesticated animal populations throughout the world. It is important to be aware of the breadth of Bartonella species, including those associated with cows, sheep, deer, and other ruminants, because of their potential role in both animal and human disease. Research on the Bartonella genus over the past […]
Trench Fever Outbreak in Denver: The Factors Involved in B. quintana Transmission
A recent string of trench fever cases in Denver, Colorado, has brought renewed attention to this infection caused by Bartonella quintana. The name “trench fever” comes from the conditions that soldiers in World War I faced. It was also called “five-day fever” during the war, reflecting the relapsing fever symptom that infected soldiers experienced. We […]
New Case Report: Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Bartonella-Associated Skin Lesions
A new case report co-authored by Galaxy Diagnostics scientists highlights the importance of bartonellosis being considered as a differential diagnosis when patients present with neuropsychiatric symptoms and skin lesions. History Bartonellosis is an emerging multi-system vector-borne disease caused by one or more bacteria belonging to the Bartonella genus. Common Bartonella species infections such as cat […]
5 Questions to Discuss with Your Physician When Bartonellosis Is Suspected
Laboratory tests are important tools that physicians use to diagnose patients. When it comes to stealth pathogens, however, testing is often only a piece of the puzzle. Physicians must understand the pathogens and the symptoms they may cause as well as assess the likelihood that the patient is infected to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. […]
In Remembrance: Neil Lee Spector, MD
We lost an incredible friend, patient advocate, and research partner on June 14, 2020. Dr. Neil Spector meant so much to so many people, and his contributions to patient advocacy and advancing research in the tick-borne disease community will be sorely missed. Many people and organizations have paid tribute to Neil’s life and work. We […]