Description of Bartonella ancashensis sp. nov., isolated from the blood of two patients with verruga peruana.

Three novel isolates of the genus Bartonella were recovered from the blood of two patients enrolled in a clinical trial for the treatment of chronic stage Bartonella bacilliformis infection (verruga peruana) in Caraz, Ancash, Peru. The isolates were initially characterized by sequencing a fragment of the gltA gene, and found to be disparate from B. bacilliformis. The isolates were further characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods, and found to be genetically identical to each other for the genes assessed, but distinct from any known species of the genus Bartonella, including the closest relative B. bacilliformis. Other characteristics of the isolates, including their morphology, microscopic and biochemical properties, and growth patterns, were consistent with members of the genus Bartonella. Based on these results, we conclude that these three isolates are members of a novel species of the genus Bartonella for which we propose the name Bartonella ancashensis sp. nov. (type strain 20.00T = ATCC BAA-2694T = DSM 29364T).

Identification of immunodominant Bartonella bacilliformis proteins: a combined in-silico and serology approach.

BACKGROUND: Bartonella bacilliformis is the aetiological agent of Carrión's disease, a biphasic and highly lethal illness formerly restricted to the South American Andes that is now spreading to adjacent areas. Reliable serodiagnostic approaches and vaccines are urgently needed. In this study, we aimed to identify immunodominant proteins of B bacilliformis and to establish novel and reliable serodiagnostic tools. METHODS: We used a reverse vaccinology approach in combination with an analysis of heterologous genomic expression libraries to identify immunodominant proteins, on the basis of the genome sequences of B bacilliformis strains KC583 and KC584. Antigens were screened with serum samples collected from Peruvian patients with B bacilliformis infections and from German healthy blood donors without history of travel to South America. We further analysed immunoreactive proteins of B bacilliformis with immunoblotting and line blots. We used selected target proteins to develop a diagnostic ELISA. To assess the performance of this ELISA, we did receiver operating characteristic analyses to assess the area under the curve, cutoff values, sensitivities, and specificities with 95% CIs. FINDINGS: We used serum samples obtained between Dec 23, 1990, and May 5, 2018, from 26 Peruvian patients with B bacilliformis infections and serum samples taken between Aug 28 and Aug 31, 2020, from 96 healthy German blood donors. 21 potentially immunodominant proteins were identified and recombinantly expressed, and their reactivity was assessed with immunoblotting and line blots. Of these 21 antigens, 14 were found to be immunoreactive. By using serum samples of Peruvian patients with Carrión's disease and of healthy German blood donors, we identified three antigens (porin B, autotransporter E, and hypothetical protein B) as suitable immunodominant antigens, and we applied them in a diagnostic ELISA using two different antigen combinations (porin B plus autotransporter E and porin B plus autotransporter E plus hypothetical protein B). For the combination of porin B and autotransporter E, with optical density measured at 450 nm (OD450) cutoff value of 0·29, sensitivity was 80·8% (95% CI 60·7-93·5) and specificity was 94·8% (88·3-98·3) for all Peruvian patient samples. For a combination of porin B, autotransporter E, and hypothetical protein B, with an OD450 cutoff of 0·34, sensitivity was 76·9% (56·4-91·0) and specificity was 93·8% (86·9-97·7) for all Peruvian patient samples. INTERPRETATION: This novel ELISA could represent a useful serodiagnostic tool for future epidemiological studies of B bacilliformis in endemic areas. Additionally, the immunodominant antigens we have identified could provide a first basis for future vaccine development to prevent the highly lethal Carrión's disease. FUNDING: DRUID (Novel Drug Targets against Poverty-Related and Neglected Tropical Infectious Diseases) Initiative and Robert Koch Institute. TRANSLATIONS: For the Spanish and Quechua translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Proteins of Bartonella bacilliformis: Candidates for Vaccine Development.

Bartonella bacilliformis is the etiologic agent of Carrión's disease or Oroya fever. B. bacilliformis infection represents an interesting model of human host specificity. The notable differences in clinical presentations of Carrión's disease suggest complex adaptations by the bacterium to the human host, with the overall objectives of persistence, maintenance of a reservoir state for vectorial transmission, and immune evasion. These events include a multitude of biochemical and genetic mechanisms involving both bacterial and host proteins. This review focuses on proteins involved in interactions between B. bacilliformis and the human host. Some of them (e.g., flagellin, Brps, IalB, FtsZ, Hbp/Pap31, and other outer membrane proteins) are potential protein antigen candidates for a synthetic vaccine.

Report of an unusual case of persistent bacteremia by Bartonella bacilliformis in a splenectomized patient.

We report a case of a 56-year-old man with a history of splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura who developed persistent bacteremia in the acute phase of human bartonellosis. This patient did not develop hemolytic anemia. Only after several courses of antibiotic treatment was the infection eradicated. This is an unusual case of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection by Bartonella bacilliformis, which provides clinical evidence that the spleen is a critical effector organ of clearance of this infection as well as the effector organ of bartonellosis-associated hemolytic anemia.

A prospective study of Cat-Scratch Disease in Lima-Peru.

Cat-Scratch Disease (CSD) is a benign lymphadenitis that may progress to severe or recurrent forms, and it is occasionally associated with morbidity. Between January of 1998 and March of 1999, forty-three suspected CSD patients were assessed in the Hospital Cayetano Heredia and the Instituto de Salud del Niño, in Lima, Peru. Twelve patients had a confirmed diagnosis, 8 of whom were women, and the mean age was 10 years old. The majority (53%) of the cases were encountered in the summer. All patients reported having had contact with cats. Fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy and skin lesions were the most frequent clinical features. Twelve patients had indirect immunofluorescence antibody test titers of between 1/50 and 1/800 for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae. Two lymph node biopsies were histologically compatible with CSD. No positive blood cultures could be obtained. This is the first Peruvian prospective study able to identify B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae in pediatric patients.

[Modelling the effect of local climatic variability on dengue transmission in Medellin (Colombia) by means of time series analysis]. / Modelado del efecto de la variabilidad climática local sobre la transmisión de dengue en Medellín (Colombia) mediante análisis de series temporales.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue fever is a major impact on public health vector-borne disease, and its transmission is influenced by entomological, sociocultural and economic factors. Additionally, climate variability plays an important role in the transmission dynamics. A large scientific consensus has indicated that the strong association between climatic variables and disease could be used to develop models to explain the incidence of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To develop a model that provides a better understanding of dengue transmission dynamics in Medellin and predicts increases in the incidence of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The incidence of dengue fever was used as dependent variable, and weekly climatic factors (maximum, mean and minimum temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) as independent variables. Expert Modeler was used to develop a model to better explain the behavior of the disease. Climatic variables with significant association to the dependent variable were selected through ARIMA models. RESULTS: The model explains 34% of observed variability. Precipitation was the climatic variable showing statistically significant association with the incidence of dengue fever, but with a 20 weeks delay. CONCLUSIONS: In Medellin, the transmission of dengue fever was influenced by climate variability, especially precipitation. The strong association dengue fever/precipitation allowed the construction of a model to help understand dengue transmission dynamics. This information will be useful to develop appropriate and timely strategies for dengue control.

Cytokines and T-Lymphocute count in patients in the acute and chronic phases of Bartonella bacilliformis infection in an endemic area in peru: a pilot study.

Human Bartonellosis has an acute phase characterized by fever and hemolytic anemia, and a chronic phase with bacillary angiomatosis-like lesions. This cross-sectional pilot study evaluated the immunology patterns using pre- and post-treatment samples in patients with Human Bartonellosis. Patients between five and 60 years of age, from endemic areas in Peru, in the acute or chronic phases were included. In patients in the acute phase of Bartonellosis a state of immune peripheral tolerance should be established for persistence of the infection. Our findings were that elevation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and numeric abnormalities of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-Lymphocyte counts correlated significantly with an unfavorable immune state. During the chronic phase, the elevated levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 observed in our series correlated with previous findings of endothelial invasion of B. henselae in animal models.

Bartonellosis.

Bartonella spp are fastidious bacteria that occur in the blood of man and mammals; they are usually vector borne but can also be transmitted by animal scratches and bites. The bartonelloses of medical importance comprise Carrión's disease, trench fever, cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, and peliosis hepatis. Carrión's disease, known as Oroya fever in the acute phase and verruga peruana (Peruvian wart) in its chronic form, has curious manifestations that, until recently, have been restricted in their geographic distribution to dwellers of the high, dry Andean valleys, but new sites of disease are emerging. Trench fever is associated with louse-borne disease and homelessness. Cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, and peliosis hepatis are increasingly being recognized as causes of human disease, especially in susceptible population groups such as HIV-infected persons. The Bartonella spp are considered emerging human pathogens. The clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment of these conditions are discussed.

Modelado del efecto de la variabilidad climática local sobre la transmisión de dengue en Medellín (Colombia) mediante análisis de series temporales / Modelling the effect of local climatic variability on dengue transmission in Medellin (Colombia) by means temporary series analysis

ntroducción. El dengue es una enfermedad de transmisión vectorial de gran impacto en la salud pública. La transmisión del dengue es afectada por factores entomológicos, socioculturales y económicos. Además, la variabilidad climática juega un importante papel en la dinámica de transmisión. Un amplio consenso científico ha indicado que la fuerte asociación entre la enfermedad y las variables climáticas podría ser empleada para desarrollar modelos que expliquen la incidencia de la enfermedad. Objetivo. Desarrollar un modelo que permita comprender la dinámica de transmisión del dengue en Medellín y predecir incrementos en la incidencia de la enfermedad. Materiales y métodos. Se empleó la incidencia de dengue como variable dependiente y como variables independientes, los factores climáticos (temperatura máxima, media y mínima, humedad relativa y precipitación) registrados a escala semanal. Se utilizó el programa Expert Modeler para desarrollar un modelo que explique mejor el comportamiento de la enfermedad. Mediante modelos ARIMA, se seleccionaron las variables climáticas que tuvieron una relación significativa con la variable dependiente. Resultados. El 34 % de la variabilidad observada se explicó por el modelo. La precipitación fue la variable climática que mostró una asociación estadísticamente significativa con la incidencia del dengue, pero con un rezago de 20 semanas. Conclusiones. La transmisión del dengue en Medellín se vio afectada por la variabilidad climática, en particular, por la precipitación. La fuerte asociación entre el dengue y la precipitación permitió construir un modelo que ayuda a comprender la dinámica de transmisión, información que será de gran utilidad para el desarrollo de adecuadas y oportunas estrategias de control.

Introduction: Dengue fever is a major impact on public health vector-borne disease, and its transmission is influenced by entomological, sociocultural and economic factors. Additionally, climate variability plays an important role in the transmission dynamics. A large scientific consensus has indicated that the strong association between climatic variables and disease could be used to develop models to explain the incidence of the disease. Objective: To develop a model that provides a better understanding of dengue transmission dynamics in Medellin and predicts increases in the incidence of the disease. Materials and methods: The incidence of dengue fever was used as dependent variable, and weekly climatic factors (maximum, mean and minimum temperature, relative humidity and precipitation) as independent variables. Expert Modeler was used to develop a model to better explain the behavior of the disease. Climatic variables with significant association to the dependent variable were selected through ARIMA models. Results: The model explains 34% of observed variability. Precipitation was the climatic variable showing statistically significant association with the incidence of dengue fever, but with a 20 weeks delay. Conclusions: In Medellin, the transmission of dengue fever was influenced by climate variability, especially precipitation. The strong association dengue fever/precipitation allowed the construction of a model to help understand dengue transmission dynamics. This information will be useful to develop appropriate and timely strategies for dengue control.

BALB/c Mice resist infection with Bartonella bacilliformis.

BACKGROUND: Bartonellosis due to Bartonella bacilliformis is a highly lethal endemic and sometimes epidemic infectious disease in South America, and a serious public health concern in Perú. There is limited information on the immunologic response to B. bacilliformis infection. The objective of this research was to produce experimental infection of BALB/c mice to B. bacilliformis inoculation. FINDINGS: BALB/c mice were inoculated with 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 x 108 live B. bacilliformis using different routes: intraperitoneal, intradermal, intranasal, and subcutaneous. Cultures of spleen, liver, and lymph nodes from one to 145 days yielded no cultivable organisms. No organs showed lesions at any time. Previously inoculated mice showed no changes in the reinoculation site. CONCLUSION: Parenteral inoculation of live B. bacilliformis via different infection routes produced no macroscopic or microscopic organ lesions in BALB/c mice. It was not possible to isolate B. bacilliformis using Columbia blood agar from 1 to 15 days after inoculation.

Larvicidal, antimycobacterial and antifungal compounds from the bark of the Peruvian plant Swartzia polyphylla DC.

The 95% ethanol extract of the bark of Swartzia polyphylla DC (Fabaceae) possesses important larvicidal, antimycobacterial and antifungal activity in vitro. Bioassay-guided studies performed on the crude ethanol extract afforded T-cadinol as the larvicidal and anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis principle, while the antifungal activity of the extract is due to the presence of the flavonoids biochanin A and dihydrobiochanin A.

Cytokines and T-Lymphocute count in patients in the acute and chronic phases of Bartonella bacilliformis infection in an endemic area in peru: a pilot study / Citoquinas y recuento de Linfocitos T en pacientes en fase aguda y crónica de infección por Bartonella bacilliformis, en una área endémica del Perú: estudio piloto

Human Bartonellosis has an acute phase characterized by fever and hemolytic anemia, and a chronic phase with bacillary angiomatosis-like lesions. This cross-sectional pilot study evaluated the immunology patterns using pre- and post-treatment samples in patients with Human Bartonellosis. Patients between five and 60 years of age, from endemic areas in Peru, in the acute or chronic phases were included. In patients in the acute phase of Bartonellosis a state of immune peripheral tolerance should be established for persistence of the infection. Our findings were that elevation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and numeric abnormalities of CD4+ and CD8+ T-Lymphocyte counts correlated significantly with an unfavorable immune state. During the chronic phase, the elevated levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 observed in our series correlated with previous findings of endothelial invasion of B. henselae in animal models.

La Bartonelosis Humana, tiene una fase aguda caracterizada por fiebre y anemia hemolítica, así como una fase crónica con lesiones semejantes a angiomatosis bacilar. En un estudio transversal piloto los patrones inmunológicos en pacientes con Bartonelosis Humana fueron estudiados mediante muestras pre y post tratamiento. Pacientes entre 5 y 60 años en fase aguda y crónica fueron incluidos en área endémica del Perú. En aquellos pacientes con fase aguda, una fase de tolerancia inmunológica periférica es necesaria para la persistencia de la infección. Los hallazgos de significativa elevación de citoquina anti-inflamatoria (IL-10) y anormalidades numéricas en el recuentos de Linfocitos T CD4+ y CD8+ correlacionan con un estado inmune que favorece la infección. Durante la fase crónica, elevados niveles de INF-γ y IL-4 observados en la serie de pacientes correlacionan con previos hallazgos en modelos animales que favorecen la invasión del endotelio por B. henselae.

Identification of Bartonella bacilliformis genotypes and their relevance to epidemiological investigations of human bartonellosis.

Genotypic diversity among 26 isolates of Bartonella bacilliformis obtained from different areas of Peru, and at different times, was assessed by comparison of DNA sequences derived from 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer regions (ISR) and a citrate synthase gene (gltA) fragment and by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. gltA comparison divided the isolates into two groups, whereas ISR comparison revealed six sequences. AFLP analysis using a selective primer delineated five profiles that correlated well with those obtained by sequence comparison. Combination of all three data sets divided the isolates into six genotypes. One of these genotypes was common to isolates collected from a large area in western Peru that corresponded to the region of endemicity for bartonellosis; however, isolates belonging to two other genotypes were also found within this region. Two of these genotypes were found in isolates isolated more than 35 years apart. The remaining three genotypes were each specifically associated with three outbreaks of bartonellosis that have recently occurred in areas where the disease had not previously been recognized. Demonstration of the unique nature of these isolates indicates that the outbreaks with which they were associated did not result from the introduction of disease by individuals who acquired their infection in the recognized region of endemicity. The sources of these outbreaks remain unknown. A consensus approach to bacterial typing using comparative sequence analysis of multiple genetic loci and the pan-genomic sampling of AFLP appears to offer a well-supported assessment of B. bacilliformis diversity, and the genotypic differences identified appear to have epidemiological significance.

Respuesta inmune en pacientes con bartonelosis humana en un área endémica de Perú / Immune response in patients with human Bartonella infection in an endemic area of Peru

Se llevó a cabo un estudio piloto en una zona de bartonelosis endémica humana en el Perú, con la captación de pacientes en fase aguda y crónica para el mejor conocimiento de su respuesta inmunitaria.

Estudios de nuevas zonas endémicas de bartonellosis humana o enfermedad de Carrión en el Perú / Studies of new endemic zones of bartonellosis humanizes or Carrión's disease in Peru

Desde 1980 se realiza una vigilancia clínica y epidemiológica de los casos sospechosos de enfermedad de Carrión o bartonellosis humana en el IMT Alexander von Humboldt y en el Departamento de Enfermedades Transmisibles y Dermatológicas del Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia, tratando de identificar posibles nuevas zonas endémicas. Se hospitalizaron y trataron tres pacientes en fase aguda hemática anemizante procedentes de nuevas zonas, diagnósticados en base a a frotis positivo de Bartonella bacilliformes (formas bacilar y cocoide)y/o cultivo positivo para Bartonella bacilliformis. Dese 1996 hemos tenido tres casos procedentes de zonas no endémicas: Costa, Pasamayo-Boza (Huaral); y Selva Alta: Chinche y Maranura (Quillabamba-Cusco), además reportamos el caso de un paciente peruano que radica en Estados Unidos de Norteamérica y que adquirió la enfermedad de Carrión cuando visitó Chincha (Ica-Grocio Prado); cuyo diagnóstico se realizó en los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica. Posteriormente, en vista de tener dos pacientes procedentes de Quillabamba (Chinche y Maranura); se hizo un estudio para determinar posible casos de bartonellosis humana o enfermedad de Carrión en la población de Chinche-Quillabamba; para ello se realizó in situ e inclusive se efectuó un estudio de los posibles vectores hematófagos en dicha zona (maranura), esta fue censada y evaluada del 27 de setiembre de 1997 al 11 de octubre de 1997, a través de una ficha clínico-epidemiológica, evaluándose 300 pobladores. En Chinche no se obtuvo antecedentes de historia previa de bartonellosis, salvo el paciente que estuvo en nuestro hospital y que lo pudimos ubicar en la zona de Chinche Bajo. De 38 frotis y hemocultivos obtenidos en Chinche no se ha observado presencia de Bartonella bacilliformis, llegándose a contaminar tres de éstos. De los 200 insectos recolectados se encontraron 8 Lutzomyas hembras antropofílicas. L nuñeztovari fue la única especie encontrada que pertenecía al grupo verrucarum...

Since 1980 we studied bartonellosis o Oroya Fever at "The Alexander von Humboldt Institute", and after 1996 we had detected three patients with Carrion's Disease who just for three different and new areas: Quillabamba (Cusco), Pasamayo-Boza (Huaral) and a report from a patient from Grocio Prado-Ica. So we decided to evaluate and determinate the seroprevalence of possible cases of Carrion's Disease in Chinche (Quillabamba); because we had two attended patients who had been hospitalized for Carrion's Disease. We estudied four cases with bartonellosis: and since September 27th to October 11 th, we went to Cusco. Three hundred persons had been evaluated in Chinche (Maranura). At the first one we reported 4 cases of bartonellosis or Oroya Fever. At Chinche, we didn't find history of previous bartonellosis in these people. One patient who had diagnosis of Carrion's Disease was found in the community 38 smears and cultures for Bartonella bacilliformis were negative. From two hundred insects collected, we found eight antrophofillic females Lutzomyas. A unique, the disease just spread to another areas because of new distribution of Lutzomias in new areas (jungle and coast). Fortunalety we didn't find Bartonella in Quillabamba but there's Lutzomyas from verrucarum's team.

A prospective study of cat-scratch disease in Lima-Peru

Cat-Scratch Disease (CSD) is a benign lymphadenitis that may progress to severe or recurrent forms, and it is occasionally associated with morbidity. Between January of 1998 and March of 1999, forty-three suspected CSD patients were assessed in the Hospital Cayetano Heredia and the Instituto de Salud del Niño, in Lima, Peru. Twelve patients had a confirmed diagnosis, 8 of whom were women, and the mean age was 10 years old. The majority (53 percent) of the cases were encountered in the summer. All patients reported having had contact with cats. Fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy and skin lesions were the most frequent clinical features. Twelve patients had indirect immunofluorescence antibody test titers of between 1/50 and 1/800 for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae. Two lymph node biopsies were histologically compatible with CSD. No positive blood cultures could be obtained. This is the first Peruvian prospective study able to identify B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae in pediatric patients

Identificación de Bartonella sp mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y métodos microbiológicos / Identification of Bartonella sp by polymerase chain reaction and microbiological methods

En el Perú la Angiomatosis bacillar (AB) y la enfermedad de Arañazo de Gato (EAG) han sido reportados confirmando el diagnóstico en laboratorios de investigación o del extranjero, no contándose con métodos de rápido diagnóstico. Se captaron 23 pacientes y se estudiaron 8 muestras de tejidos con sospecha de EAG,AB o Verruga Peruana (VP). Se realizaron cultivos en condiciones requeridas. Extracción de DNA de sangre, cultivos y tejidos mediante buffers de digestión fueron estandarizados para cada caso. Se amplificó el DNA con primers 16S-ITRFf y 23S-ITRr ó CS-ITRf y CSITRr; en gel de agarosa 1 por ciento, y cuantificados con DNA -Hind III. Cultivos controles mostraron banda en B. bacilliformis de 948 pb, B. quintana 1310 pb, B henselae 1427 pb. M. tuberculosus 563 pb. Un paciente con diagnóstico confirmado de EAG por B. henselae, mostró banda concordante con control de B. henselae utilizando los primers 16S y 23S. Una muestra de VP mostró banda concordante con control de B. bacilliformis. una muestra confirmada por patología de AB mostró bandas concordantes a B. henselae utilizando el primer CS. Se confirmaron casos de EAG, AB y VP en base a muestras de aspirados de ganglio o biopsia mediante PCR. El PCR permitió el diagnóstico diferencial de adenomagalias por EAG y Micobacterias, y de AB en la Verruga Peruana.

Brote epidémico de enfermedad de Carrión en el Valle Sagrado de los Incas (Cuzco) / Outbreak of Bartonella infections in the Santuary Valley from the Incas (Cuzco)

Por primera vez se presentó una epidemia grave de la fase aguda anemizante de la enfermedad de Carrión en el Valle Sagrado de los Incas. Por ello, entre abril y junio de 1998 se estudió en forma prospectiva un total de 26 pacientes afectados por dicha fase, quienes estuvieron internados en el Hospital Regional del Cuzco. Todos ellos fueron confirmados con frotis positivo para Bartonella bacilliformis; además 6 de ellos tuvieron cultivo positivo para Bartonella bacilliformis. La edad promedio fue de 20 años (rango 21 días a 65 años). De ellos el 54 por ciento (14/26) fueron menores de 14 años. La totalidad de los pacientes procedía del Valle Sagrado de los Incas: 12 de Urubamba, 8 de Calca, 5 de Quispicanchis y uno de Cuzco. El tiempo de enfermedad promedio fue de 8 días (rango 2-22 días). De los síntomas y signos destacan: taquicardia 100 por ciento, taquipnea 97 por ciento, malestar general 85 por ciento, fiebre 81 por ciento, visceromegalia 75 por ciento, cefalea 73 por ciento, anemia severa 71 por ciento, ictericia 62 por ciento, artralgias 46 por ciento, púrpura 40 por ciento, linfoadenomegalia 25 por ciento, compromiso neurológico 31 por ciento, shock al ingreso 15 por ciento, etc. El promedio de hematocrito fue de 18.9 por ciento (rango 9-40). El 77 por ciento (19/26) presentó leucocitosis > 10,000 cel/ml, plaquetopenia el 19 por ciento (5/26), la media del incremento de bilirrubinas fue de 8.7 mg por ciento. El 100 por ciento recibió algún antibiótico solo o combinado, 57 por ciento a base de cloramfenicol (CAF) más penicilina y el 19 por ciento sólo CAF. Además el 85 por ciento (22/26) recibió transfusión sanguínea (rango 1-10 unidades) y el 66 por ciento corticoides endovenosos. Durante la evolución algunos pacientes presentaron complicaciones: 6 convulsiones, 5 anasarca, 5 púrpura (petequias, epístaxis), 4 derrame pericárdico, 4 salmonellosis, 3 neumonía, 2 toxoplasmosis, 2 artritis, 2 meningismo, 1 neumonía por Neumocystis carinii, 1 herpes diseminado. El 77 por ciento (20/26) tuvo una evolución favorable y el 23 por ceinto (6/26) falleció. Se ha encontrado en casas rurales de Pisac, Calca y Ollantaytambo a la Lutzomyia peruensis, probable vector implicado en la transmisión del presente brote.

Enfermedad del arañazo de gato en Lima-Perú: primer estudio prospectivo / Illness of the cat scratch in Lima - Peru: first prospective study

Enfermedad del arañazo de gato es descrita como una linfadenitis, que puede progresar a una forma severa o recurrente, y ocasionalmente asociada a morbilidad; cuyas características eran desconocidas en nuestro país. Se incluyeron 43 pacientes, 46.51 por ciento fueron hombres y 53.49 por ciento mujeres. La media de la edad fue 14.09 años, 74.4 por ciento menores de 18 años. Durante el verano 53.33 por ciento fueron captados. Contacto con gatos presentaron el 93.02 por ciento de los pacientes. Las manifestaciones clínicas principales fueron fiebre y malestar general, y el hallazgo de linfoadenonegalia y la lesión de inoculación. Doce pacientes presentaron títulos entre 1/50 a 1/800 para B. henselae y B.Clarridgeae utilizando IFI. Tres muestras anatomopatológicos fueron características, otras seis fueron sugerentes. No se logró preservar colonias en los cultivos microbiológicos. El presente trabajo es el primer estudio prospectivo nacional de enfermedad del arañazo de gato, logrando identificar B. henselae y B. clarridgeae, principalmente en pacientes de edad pediátrica.

Primer reporte de bartonella henselae y bartonella clarridgeiae en pacientes con enfermedad del arañazo de gato y angiomatosis bacilar en Lima / First report of bartonella henselae and bartonella clarridgeiae in patients with cat scratch disease and bacillary angiomatosis in Lima

La mayoría de las nuevas especies de bartonellas se describieron desde de esta década, sin embargo de poca información se dispone aún en nuestro país. El presente fue un estudio prospectivo y descriptivo transversal, realizado entre enero y diciembre de 1998 en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia, Instituto de Salud del Niño y algunos consultorios privados de Lima, captando pacientes con sospecha de enfermedades causadas por nuevas especies de bartonellas. Se incluyeron 30 individuos con sospecha clínica de enfermedad de arañazo del gato, detectando por IFI B. henselae en ocho pacientes a títulos entre 1/50 y 1/200, y en un paciente B. clarridgeiae y B. henselae en títulos de 1/800, dos pacientes mostraron histopatología compatible. Cinco pacientes fueron incluidos con sospecha clínica de angiomatosis bacilar, dos con confirmación patológica y uno con títulos de 1/50 en IFI a B. henselae. No se logró preservar colonias por cultivo utilizando condiciones especiales. Se demuestra así, la existencia de B. henselae y B. claridgeiae como agentes causales de enfermedad de arañazo del gato, por IFI e histopatología, entre pacientes de edad pediátrica; y B. henselae en angiomatosis bacilar, constituyendo diagnóstico diferencial de Sarcoma de Kaposi y Verruga Peruana, en nuestro país.