Bartonella species are vector-borne zoonotic bacteria. Let’s unpack that. “Vector-borne” means the bacteria can be transferred between hosts via a vector such as a flea. “Zoonotic” means that it can survive in an animal reservoir and then return to humans. The plus side for the Bartonella species, or any other zoonotic bacteria trying to survive […]
You May Not Have Heard of These Two Bartonella Species
We previously wrote about diseases caused by Bartonella species that had been described in medical literature for more than a century before the bacteria that caused them were identified. For example, B. henselae was isolated from HIV patients experiencing unusual symptoms during the 1990s. Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella koehlerae, two lesser known Bartonella species, were […]
Bartonella and the Liver
Research on HIV patients in the 1990s revealed the bacterium, Bartonella henselae, as the causative agent of cat scratch disease (CSD). These studies also reported patients who developed atypical CSD symptoms, including bacillary peliosis, suggesting that chronic Bartonella species infections (bartonellosis) may lead to impaired liver function in immunosuppressed individuals. Since then, case studies of […]
The Microbiome: An Impact Expanded Through Metabolites
Understanding the importance of the microbiome has upended traditional thoughts about the treatment of disease. For example, treatments of autoimmune diseases that adversely affect the microbiome are being rethought. The majority of cells in the human body—cells that don’t have human DNA—are getting a new level of respect. What are metabolites? Despite being so different […]
“Herxing”: Why does it occur?
The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR), or “herxing”, was first described by physicians in the late 1800s. Patients who experience this phenomenon report an increase in non-specific symptoms shortly following initiation of antibiotic treatment. These symptoms include chills, fever, headache, and/or intensification of skin rashes. Despite being described more than a century ago, it is still difficult […]
Keep an “Eye” Out for Bartonella Infections
Patients with Bartonella species infection (bartonellosis) complain of a variety of nonspecific vision problems that can affect every function of the eye. Making diagnosis and treatment decisions even more difficult, these problems can be caused by a variety of other pathogens and diseases. Fortunately, many peer-reviewed case publications, especially in ophthalmology journals, are available that […]