Cats receive most of the attention when it comes to Bartonella prevalence and transmission because they are natural carriers of the bacteria. There is even an illness named after how they transmit Bartonella henselae to humans (cat scratch disease or cat scratch fever). However, competent vectors for Bartonella species (insects and arachnids that are able […]
Bartonellosis: A Hidden Cause of Splenomegaly
An enlarged spleen can present a diagnostic mystery. The spleen is an organ that is like a large lymph node (see our previous blog post on bartonellosis and lymph nodes). It cleans old red blood cells from the bloodstream and as part of that process is exposed to everything in the body. The spleen can […]
Bartonella vs. Borrelia: Key Differences You Should Know
Bartonella and Lyme Borrelia are easily confused because they are both vector-borne bacteria with similar sounding names and frequently have complex, interrelated roles in chronic illnesses. Patients often believe Bartonella and Borrelia are the same before speaking to us, or they may mistake something they read online about one for the other. In this post, […]
Celebrate One Health Day on November 3rd
One Health Day will be this Sunday, November 3. Go to the One Health Commission website to find out more about activities that may be in your area. This year, Galaxy Diagnostics is co-sponsoring Louisiana One Health in Action’s Walk-n-Wag on Saturday. One health is an approach that recognizes the relationship between the health of […]
Bats: Another Host for Bartonella?
Bats are among the most widely distributed mammals worldwide, often living in dense and diverse populations near suburban housing and camping sites. Their health relationship with people is complex and interdependent, illustrating the One Health concept. Bats help control harmful insects like mosquitoes. However, research suggests that they are a reservoir for novel pathogenic Bartonella […]
Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt’s Thoughts After the 9th Annual International Bartonella Conference
The International Conference on Bartonella as Emerging Pathogens is an annual 3-day meeting that provides researchers, physicians and veterinarians with updates on the latest Bartonella research from around the world. This year, 22 countries were represented at the National Veterinary School of Alfort in Paris, France from September 18th to September 20th. Galaxy Diagnostics was […]