RESUMEN
La angiomatosis bacilar (AB) es una enfermedad infec-ciosa poco frecuente, causada por bacterias del género Bartonella spp. transmitidas por vectores como pulgas, piojos y mosquitos. En el ser humano provoca diferentes síndromes clínicos. En pacientes con infección por el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) con recuento de LT CD4 + <100 cél/µL se asocia a lesiones angiomatosas con neovascularización que comprometen la piel y, en menor medida, mucosas, hígado, bazo y huesos.El sarcoma de Kaposi (SK) es una neoplasia caracteriza-da por hiperplasia vascular multifocal de origen endotelial relacionada con el herpes virus humano 8. También puede afectar piel, mucosas y vísceras, siendo la variante epidé-mica una enfermedad marcadora de la infección avanzada por VIH. El principal diagnóstico diferencial clínico para las lesiones cutáneas y mucosas del SK es la AB.Presentamos un paciente con enfermedad VIH/sida que desarrolló AB y SK en forma concomitante en la misma lesión cutánea
Bacillary angiomatosis (BA) is a rare infectious disease, caused by bacteria of the genus Bartonella spp, transmitted by vectors such as fleas, lice and mosquitoes. It causes different clinical syndromes in humans. In patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with an LT CD4 + <100 cell/µL count, it is associated with the development of angiomatous lesions with neovascularization involving the skin and, with less frequency, mucous membranes, liver, spleen and bones. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a neoplasm characterized by multifocal vascular hyperplasia of endothelial origin related to human herpes virus 8. It can also compromiso the skin, mucous membranes and viscera, with the epidemic variant being a marker disease of advanced HIV infection. The main clinical differential diagnosis for KS skin and mucosal lesions is the BA.Herein we present a patient with HIV/AIDS disease that developed BA and KS concomitantly in the same skin lesion
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Sarcoma de Kaposi/terapia , Síntomas Concomitantes , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/inmunología , VIH/inmunología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/terapiaRESUMEN
We present the case of an HIV-positive patient who developed polymorphous lesions in which the evidence in the skin biopsy corresponds to the diagnosis of bacillary angiomatosis, and further tests proved the pathological agent involved in this case is not the usual Bartonella species, B. henselae and B. quintana, but B. elizabethae. As far as we know, this is the first case of bacillary angiomatosis secondary to this etiological agent.
Asunto(s)
Angiomatosis Bacilar/inmunología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/microbiología , Infecciones por Bartonella/inmunología , Infecciones por Bartonella/microbiología , Infecciones por VIH , Huésped Inmunocomprometido , Adulto , Bartonella , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most prevalent hematologic genetic disorder. Acute vaso-occlusive painful crisis is the hallmark of the disease and may be related to subclinical infections. Bartonellosis, a rare and neglected infection, is caused by Bartonella spp., which can be found in donated blood. These bacteria cause intraerythrocytic and endothelial infection and pain, all of which occur in SCD. It is likely that this infection is transmitted to SCD patients during transfusion from donated blood, leading to pain. We, therefore, evaluated whether Bartonella henselae infection would cause hyperalgesia in mice with SCD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SCD mice were generated by transplantation of nucleated bone marrow cells harvested from transgenic Berkeley sickle mice into 2-month-old irradiated C57BL/6 mice. We infected four SCD mice by intraperitoneal inoculation with B. henselae, and inoculated four other mice with the same volume of saline. Mechanical hyperalgesia was determined using von Frey monofilaments by two blinded observers. Thereafter, the animals were anesthetized and euthanized to collect blood, liver, and spleen samples to seek B. henselae infection by PCR. FINDINGS: We confirmed the experimental infection in all animals by PCR. Tremors and mechanical hypersensitivity were demonstrated by SCD mice infected with B. henselae infection but not in those receiving saline. CONCLUSION: B. henselae infection may be related to pain and other symptoms in SCD.
Asunto(s)
Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Bartonella henselae , Hiperalgesia/etiología , Anemia de Células Falciformes , Animales , ADN Bacteriano , Ratones , Reacción en Cadena de la PolimerasaRESUMEN
Many mammals are established hosts for the vector borne bacterial genus, Bartonella. Small Indian mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus) have only been reported as a possible host for Bartonella henselae in southern Japan. Confirming Bartonella presence in mongooses from other regions in the world may support their role as potential reservoirs of this human pathogen. Specifically, documenting Bartonella in Caribbean mongooses would identify a potential source of zoonotic risk with mongoose-human contact in the New World. Using serological and molecular techniques, we investigated B. henselae DNA and specific antibody prevalence in 171 mongooses from all six parishes in Grenada, West Indies. Almost a third (32.3%, 54/167) of the tested mongooses were B. henselae seropositive and extracted DNA from 18/51 (35.3%) blood pellets were PCR positive for the citrate synthase (gltA) and/or the ß subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB) genes. All sequences were identical to B. henselae genotype I, as previously reported from Japan. This study confirms the role of small Indian mongooses as a natural reservoir of B. henselae in the New World.
Asunto(s)
Angiomatosis Bacilar/epidemiología , Bartonella henselae/aislamiento & purificación , Herpestidae/microbiología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/microbiología , Animales , Bartonella henselae/genética , Bartonella henselae/fisiología , Reservorios de Enfermedades/microbiología , Genotipo , Grenada/epidemiología , Zoonosis/epidemiología , Zoonosis/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Bacillary angiomatosis (BA) is an angioproliferative disease of immunocompromised patients that usually presents as vascular tumors in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. It is caused by chronic infections with either Bartonella henselae or B. quintana. Oral cavity BA is exceedingly rare and even rarer without simultaneous cutaneous disease. We report herein the case of a 51-year-old HIV-infected man who presented severe odynophagia and an eroded lesion on the hard palate that progressed to an oronasal fistula. No cutaneous lesions were recorded. Doxycycline led to complete resolution. To the best of our knowledge, only six previous cases of oral BA without tegumentary disease have been previously reported and none of them progressed to fistula.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/patología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Enfermedades de la Boca/patología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/microbiología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedades de la Boca/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Abstract Bacillary angiomatosis is an infection determined by Bartonella henselae and B. quintana, rare and prevalent in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We describe a case of a patient with AIDS and TCD4+ cells equal to 9/mm3, showing reddish-violet papular and nodular lesions, disseminated over the skin, most on the back of the right hand and third finger, with osteolysis of the distal phalanx observed by radiography. The findings of vascular proliferation with presence of bacilli, on the histopathological examination of the skin and bone lesions, led to the diagnosis of bacillary angiomatosis. Corroborating the literature, in the present case the infection affected a young man (29 years old) with advanced immunosuppression and clinical and histological lesions compatible with the diagnosis.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Adulto Joven , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/patología , Biopsia , Ceftriaxona/uso terapéutico , Resultado del Tratamiento , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Azitromicina/uso terapéutico , Bartonella henselae , Hueso Esponjoso/patología , Antibacterianos/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Bartonella spp. are neglected fastidious Gram-negative bacilli. We isolated Bartonella henselae from 1.2% of 500 studied blood donors and demonstrated that the bacteria remain viable in red blood cell units after 35 days of experimental infection. Now, we aim to evaluate the possibility of B. henselae transmission by blood transfusion in a mouse model. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Eight BALB/c mice were intraperitoneal inoculated with a 30 µL of suspension with 10(4) CFU/mL of B. henselae and a second group of eight mice were inoculated with saline solution and used as control. After 96 hours of inoculation, the animals were euthanized. We collected blood and tissue samples from skin, liver, and spleen. Thirty microliters of blood from four Bartonella-inoculated animals were transfused into a new group (n = 4). Another group received blood from the control animals. B. henselae infection was investigated by conventional and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Blood samples from all 24 mice were negative by molecular tests though half of the tissue samples were positive by nested PCR in the intraperitoneal Bartonella-investigated animals. Tissues from two of the four mice that received blood transfusions from Bartonella-inoculated animals were also nested PCR positives. CONCLUSIONS: Transmission of B. henselae by transfusion is possible in mice even when donor animals have undetectable bloodstream infection. The impact of human Bartonella sp. transmission through blood transfusion recipients must be evaluated.
Asunto(s)
Angiomatosis Bacilar/transmisión , Bartonella henselae/patogenicidad , Reacción a la Transfusión , Angiomatosis Bacilar/diagnóstico , Animales , Donantes de Sangre , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodosRESUMEN
Bacillary angiomatosis is an infection determined by Bartonella henselae and B. quintana, rare and prevalent in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We describe a case of a patient with AIDS and TCD4+ cells equal to 9/mm3, showing reddish-violet papular and nodular lesions, disseminated over the skin, most on the back of the right hand and third finger, with osteolysis of the distal phalanx observed by radiography. The findings of vascular proliferation with presence of bacilli, on the histopathological examination of the skin and bone lesions, led to the diagnosis of bacillary angiomatosis. Corroborating the literature, in the present case the infection affected a young man (29 years old) with advanced immunosuppression and clinical and histological lesions compatible with the diagnosis.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/patología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Azitromicina/uso terapéutico , Bartonella henselae , Biopsia , Hueso Esponjoso/patología , Ceftriaxona/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Masculino , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The ongoing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection epidemic coupled with more efficacious and available treatments has led to a larger number of patients living with HIV or AIDS. As a result, skin manifestations related to HIV/AIDS or its therapy have become increasingly more common and are reported to occur in as many as 95% of patients. Herein, we review the most common HIV/AIDS related cutaneous pathologies and classify them into inflammatory, HAART-associated, neoplastic, and infectious manifestations. Cutaneous manifestations should be promptly recognized and treated by physicians and health care personnel in order to provide optimal care.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/etiología , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/complicaciones , Enfermedades Cutáneas Infecciosas/etiología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/etiología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/tratamiento farmacológico , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/etiología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/etiología , Antirretrovirales/efectos adversos , Terapia Antirretroviral Altamente Activa/efectos adversos , Dermatitis Seborreica/etiología , Humanos , Psoriasis/etiología , Sarcoma de Kaposi/etiología , Sarcoma de Kaposi/patología , Enfermedades Cutáneas Infecciosas/fisiopatología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patología , Sífilis Cutánea/etiologíaRESUMEN
The ongoing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection epidemic coupled with more efficacious and available treatments has led to a larger number of patients living with HIV or AIDS. As a result, skin manifestations related to HIV/AIDS or its therapy have become increasingly more common and are reported to occur in as many as 95% of patients. Herein, we review the most common HIV/AIDS related cutaneous pathologies and classify them into inflammatory, HAART-associated, neoplastic, and infectious manifestations. Cutaneous manifestations should be promptly recognized and treated by physicians and health care personnel in order to provide optimal care.
La epidemia del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) sumado al mayor acceso a terapias antiretrovirales (TARV) han llevado a un aumento del número y la sobrevida de pacientes que viven con esta infección crónica. Se estima que hasta 95% de los pacientes con infección por VIH/SIDA presentarán alguna manifestación cutánea, por lo cual, debemos conocerlas. En la presente revisión se estudiarán las manifestaciones cutáneas de la infección por el VIH/SIDA clasificadas como: manifestaciones inflamatorias, manifestaciones asociadas a la TARV, manifestaciones neoplásicas y manifestaciones infecciosas asociadas a infección por VIH/SIDA (bacterianas, virales, fúngicas y parasitarias). Estas manifestaciones deben ser reconocidas por los médicos y el personal de salud a cargo del tratamiento y control de los pacientes con esta patología crónica.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/etiología , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/complicaciones , Enfermedades Cutáneas Infecciosas/etiología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/etiología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/tratamiento farmacológico , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/etiología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/etiología , Antirretrovirales/efectos adversos , Terapia Antirretroviral Altamente Activa/efectos adversos , Dermatitis Seborreica/etiología , Psoriasis/etiología , Sarcoma de Kaposi/etiología , Sarcoma de Kaposi/patología , Enfermedades Cutáneas Infecciosas/fisiopatología , Neoplasias Cutáneas/patología , Sífilis Cutánea/etiologíaAsunto(s)
Angiomatosis Bacilar/veterinaria , Bartonella henselae , Colangitis/veterinaria , Hepatitis Animal/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/microbiología , Hígado/microbiología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/complicaciones , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Animales , Colangitis/etiología , Colangitis/microbiología , Hepatitis Animal/etiología , Hepatitis Animal/patología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/patología , Caballos/microbiología , Hígado/patología , MasculinoRESUMEN
Background: Bacillary angiomatosis is an unusual infectious disease, with angioproliferative lesions, typical of immunocompromised patients. It is caused by Bartonella quintana and Bartonella henselae, two infectious agents of the genus Bartonella, which trigger variable clinical manifestations, including cutaneous vascular and purpuric lesions, and regional lymphadenopathy, and even a systemic disease with visceral involvement. We report a 38-year-old HIV positive male presenting with a history of six months of cutaneous growing purple angiomatous lesions, located also in nasal fossae, rhi-nopharynx and larynx. The skin biopsy was compatible with bacillary angiomatosis. Polymerase chain reaction of a tissue sample showed homology with B. quintana strain Toulouse. The patient was treated with azithromycin and ciprofloxacin with a favorable evolution.
Asunto(s)
Adulto , Humanos , Masculino , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/patología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Bartonella quintana , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Azitromicina/uso terapéutico , Biopsia , Ciprofloxacina/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
Bacillary angiomatosis is an unusual infectious disease, with angioproliferative lesions, typical of immunocompromised patients. It is caused by Bartonella quintana and Bartonella henselae, two infectious agents of the genus Bartonella, which trigger variable clinical manifestations, including cutaneous vascular and purpuric lesions, and regional lymphadenopathy, and even a systemic disease with visceral involvement. We report a 38-year-old HIV positive male presenting with a history of six months of cutaneous growing purple angiomatous lesions, located also in nasal fossae, rhi-nopharynx and larynx. The skin biopsy was compatible with bacillary angiomatosis. Polymerase chain reaction of a tissue sample showed homology with B. quintana strain Toulouse. The patient was treated with azithromycin and ciprofloxacin with a favorable evolution.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/patología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Bartonella quintana , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Adulto , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Azitromicina/uso terapéutico , Biopsia , Ciprofloxacina/uso terapéutico , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
It is a report of disseminated bacillary angiomatosis (BA) in a 23-year-old female patient, who is HIV-positive and with fever, weight loss, hepatomegaly, ascites, and papular-nodular skin lesions. The clinical and diagnostic aspects involved in the case were discussed. Bacillary angiomatosis must always be considered in the diagnosis of febrile cutaneous manifestations in AIDS.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/diagnóstico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/diagnóstico , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Eritromicina/uso terapéutico , Femenino , Gentamicinas/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
It is a report of disseminated bacillary angiomatosis (BA) in a 23-year-old female patient, who is HIV-positive and with fever, weight loss, hepatomegaly, ascites, and papular-nodular skin lesions. The clinical and diagnostic aspects involved in the case were discussed. Bacillary angiomatosis must always be considered in the diagnosis of febrile cutaneous manifestations in AIDS.
Relato de angiomatose bacilar (AB) disseminada em paciente do sexo feminino de 23 anos, HIV positiva, com febre, emagrecimento, hepatomegalia, ascite e lesões de pele pápulo-nodulares. Foram discutidos os aspectos clínicos e diagnósticos envolvidos no caso. Angiomatose bacilar deve sempre ser considerada no diagnóstico de doença febril com manifestações cutâneas na AIDS.
Asunto(s)
Femenino , Humanos , Adulto Joven , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/diagnóstico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/diagnóstico , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Eritromicina/uso terapéutico , Gentamicinas/uso terapéuticoAsunto(s)
Angiomatosis Bacilar/diagnóstico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Bartonella henselae/aislamiento & purificación , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/diagnóstico , Adulto , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Eritromicina/uso terapéutico , Femenino , Humanos , Embarazo , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/tratamiento farmacológico , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/patologíaRESUMEN
Bartonella henselae is the agent of cat scratch disease and bacillary angiomatosis. Blood donors can be asymptomatic carriers of B. henselae and the risk for transmission by transfusion should be considered. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that B. henselae remains viable in red blood cell (RBC) units at the end of the storage period. Two RBC units were split into two portions. One portion was inoculated with B. henselae and the other was used as a control. All units were stored at 4 degrees C for 35 days. Aliquots were collected on a weekly basis for culture in a dish with chocolate agar, ideal for the cultivation of this agent. Samples were collected on days 1 and 35 and taken for culture in Bact/Alert R blood culture bottles. Aliquots taken simultaneously were fixed in Karnovsky's medium for subsequent electron microscopy evaluation. Samples from infected bags successfully isolated B. henselae by chocolate agar culture, although Bact/Alert R blood culture bottles remained negative. Bartonella spp. structures within erythrocytes were confirmed by electron microscopy. The viability of B. henselae was demonstrated after a storage period of RBC units. These data reinforce the possibility of infection by transfusion of blood units collected from asymptomatic blood donors.
Asunto(s)
Angiomatosis Bacilar/transmisión , Bartonella henselae/fisiología , Conservación de la Sangre , Sangre/microbiología , Transfusión de Eritrocitos/efectos adversos , Eritrocitos/microbiología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/prevención & control , Bartonella henselae/aislamiento & purificación , Portador Sano/microbiología , Frío , Criopreservación , Humanos , Transfusión de Plaquetas/efectos adversos , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Bartonella spp. constitute emerging pathogens of worldwide distribution. Bacillary angiomatosis is the most frequent skin manifestation of bartonelloses; nevertheless, B. henselae infection should always be considered systemic, especially in immunodeficient individuals. The authors report the case of an AIDS patient with bacillary angiomatosis, who had concurrent severe anemia, hepatitis, peritonitis, pleuritis, and pericarditis. Clinical manifestation, electronic microscopic examination of erythrocytes, and histopathology of a papule biopsy suggested a Bartonella sp. infection. Multiple genes were target by PCR and B. henselae DNA was amplified and sequenced (GenBank accession number EF196804) from the angiomatous papule. Treatment with clarithromycin resulted in resolution of the bacillary angiomatosis, fever, anemia, panserosites, and hepatitis.
Asunto(s)
Anemia/microbiología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/microbiología , Bartonella henselae/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones por VIH/microbiología , Hepatitis/microbiología , Serositis/microbiología , Enfermedades de la Piel/microbiología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/microbiología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/patología , Adulto , Anemia/tratamiento farmacológico , Anemia/patología , Angiomatosis Bacilar/tratamiento farmacológico , Angiomatosis Bacilar/patología , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Bartonella henselae/genética , Secuencia de Bases , Claritromicina/uso terapéutico , ADN Bacteriano/análisis , Eritrocitos/microbiología , Eritrocitos/ultraestructura , Hepatitis/tratamiento farmacológico , Hepatitis/patología , Humanos , Huésped Inmunocomprometido , Masculino , Microscopía Electrónica de Transmisión/métodos , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Serositis/tratamiento farmacológico , Serositis/patología , Enfermedades de la Piel/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades de la Piel/patología , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to determine the serological and molecular prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection in a sick dog population from Brazil. At the São Paulo State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Botucatu, 198 consecutive dogs with clinicopathological abnormalities consistent with tick-borne infections were sampled. Antibodies to Bartonella henselae and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii were detected in 2.0% (4/197) and 1.5% (3/197) of the dogs, respectively. Using 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) primers, Bartonella DNA was amplified from only 1/198 blood samples. Bartonella seroreactive and/or PCR positive blood samples (n=8) were inoculated into a liquid pre-enrichment growth medium (BAPGM) and subsequently sub-inoculated onto BAPGM/blood-agar plates. PCR targeting the ITS region, pap31 and rpoB genes amplified B. henselae from the blood and/or isolates of the PCR positive dog (ITS: DQ346666; pap31 gene: DQ351240; rpoB: EF196806). B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (pap31: DQ906160; rpoB: EF196805) co-infection was found in one of the B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii seroreactive dogs. We conclude that dogs in this study population were infrequently exposed to or infected with a Bartonella species. The B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii strains identified in this study are genetically similar to strains isolated from septicemic cats, dogs, coyotes and human beings from other parts of the world. To our knowledge, these isolates provide the first Brazilian DNA sequences from these Bartonella species and the first evidence of Bartonella co-infection in dogs.