Bartonella henselae Infection and Lymphadenopathy in a Patient With T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Patients undergoing therapy for T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at risk of infections during their treatment course. Cat scratch disease caused by Bartonella hensalae can masquerade as leukemic relapse and cause systemic infection. Obtaining a thorough exposure history may aid clinicians in making the diagnosis.

Epidemiology of Bartonella henselae infection in pet and stray cats in Croatia with risk factors analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cats are the primary reservoirs of the bacterium Bartonella henselae, the main cause of cat-scratch disease in humans. The main vector of the bacterium is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. In southeastern Europe, data are lacking on the prevalence of B. henselae infection in cats, the strains of B. henselae involved and the risk factors associated with the infection. METHODS: Blood samples collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-containing tubes from 189 domestic cats (156 pet cats and 33 stray cats) from Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia, and 10 counties throughout Croatia were cultured for Bartonella spp. Following culture, bacterial isolates were genotyped at eight loci after using PCR to amplify 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and the internal transcribed spacer region between the 16S and 23S rRNA sequences. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for B. henselae infection in cats. RESULTS: Bartonella spp. was detected in 31 cats (16.4%), and subsequent genotyping at the eight loci revealed B. henselae in all cases. Thirty complete multilocus sequence typing profiles were obtained, and the strains were identified as four sequence types that had been previously reported, namely ST5 (56.7%), ST6 (23.3%), ST1 (13.3%) and ST24 (3.3%), as well as a novel sequence type, ST33 (3.3%). The univariate analysis revealed a significantly higher risk of B. henselae infection in cats residing in coastal areas of Croatia (odds ratio [OR] 2.592, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.150-5.838; P = 0.0191) and in cats with intestinal parasites (OR 3.207, 95% CI 1.088-9.457; P = 0.0279); a significantly lower risk was identified in cats aged > 1 year (OR 0.356, 95% CI 0.161-0.787; P = 0.0247) and in cats sampled between April and September (OR 0.325, 95% CI 0.147-0.715; P = 0.005). The multivariate analysis that controlled for age showed a positive association with the presence of intestinal parasites (OR 4.241, 95% CI 1.243-14.470; P = 0.0119) and coastal residence (OR 2.567, 95% CI 1.114-5.915; P = 0.0216) implying increased risk of infection, and a negative association with sampling between April and September (OR 0.379, 95% CI 0.169-0.848; P = 0.018) implying a decreased risk of infection. After controlling for the season, an increased risk of infection remained for the coastal region (OR 2.725, 95% CI 1.200-6.186; P = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Bartonella henselae is prevalent throughout Croatia and is a public health threat. Environmental and host factors can significantly affect the risk of infection, and these should be explored in more detail. The presence of intestinal parasites highlights the need to eliminate the flea vector, Ctenocephalides felis, as the most effective approach to control infections in cats and humans.

A comparison of Bartonella henselae infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice.

Bartonellosis refers to disease caused by the Bartonella genus of bacteria. The breadth of disease manifestations associated with Bartonella is currently expanding and includes regional lymphadenopathy, rheumatic, ocular, and neurological disorders. The dearth of knowledge regarding diagnosis, treatment and pathogenesis of this disease can be partially attributed to the lack of a reliable small animal model for the disease. For this study, Bartonella henselae, the most common species associated with human disease, was injected into Swiss Webster (SW) mice. When the outcome indicated that productive infection did not occur, SCID/Beige (immune compromised) mice were inoculated. While SW mice may potentially harbor an acute infection, less than 10 days in length, the SCID/Beige model provided a sustained infection lasting up to 30-days. These data indicate that SCID/Beige mice can provide a model to study Bartonella infection, therapeutics, and vector dynamics in the future.

Case series of neuroretinitis in Korea.

BACKGROUND: To present the clinical characteristics of neuroretinitis in Korea. METHODS: Twelve patients with neuroretinitis between January 2009 and September 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Neuroretinitis was diagnosed based on fundus findings, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography. The serological findings of each patient were reviewed. RESULTS: Fifteen eyes of 12 patients (9 male and 3 female), with a mean age of 46.0 ± 10.7 years were included. Of the nine patients who underwent serological testing for Toxocara antibodies, six (66.6%) were positive. One patient had high titers of Toxoplasma immunoglobulins M and G. One patient diagnosed with dengue fever was suspected to have neuroretinitis in both eyes. There were no related abnormalities in the serological findings in four patients (33.3%) out of 12 patients. There were no suspected cases of cat-scratch disease. The six patients who were positive for Toxocara antibodies were older (mean age: 54.5 ± 9.1 years) than the others (mean age: 37.5 ± 4.4 years, p = 0.004). The four patients without any abnormal serological findings were relatively younger (mean age: 35.7 ± 3.0 years) than the other 8 patients (mean age: 51.1 ± 10.1 years, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of neuroretinitis patients were seropositive for Toxocara in the current cohort from Koreans. Causative factors in cases of neuroretinitis may vary according to age and region.

Atypical Cat Scratch Disease With Splenic Lesion Mimicking Kawasaki Disease in a Healthy 5-Year-old Girl.

BACKGROUND: Atypical cat scratch disease (CSD) and Kawasaki disease (KD) are differential diagnoses of pediatric febrile illnesses. Diagnosing atypical CSD can be challenging because of its wide range of symptoms. However, its similarity to KD has rarely been addressed. METHODS: We present the case of a 5-year-old girl with atypical CSD and splenic lesions who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for KD. We also conducted a literature review of previous cases in which CSD was suspected alongside KD and detailed the diagnosis and treatment processes. RESULTS: A previously healthy 5-year-old girl with prolonged fever and symptoms resembling those of KD was admitted to our hospital. There was no evidence of an abnormal coronary artery, and her condition did not improve after the initial treatment for KD and bacterial infection. A history of contact with cats and multiple granulomatous lesions in the spleen on abdominal ultrasonography led to a clinical diagnosis of atypical CSD. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment resulted in symptom resolution. Elevated serum Bartonella henselae IgG and IgM antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of CSD. In this case, we avoided second-line treatment for KD with an alternative CSD diagnosis. Additionally, we identified 4 documented cases of CSD presenting with KD-like features in the literature. Intravenous immunoglobulin was ineffective in all cases, including the present case. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of atypical CSD where KD is suspected, actively seeking organ-specific symptoms may facilitate an early clinical diagnosis of CSD. Adopting this approach could yield multiple advantages, including reduced invasiveness for the patient and decreased healthcare-related expenditures.

Variantes en la presentación clínica de la enfermedad por arañazo de gato en niños del hospital Garrahan / Variants in the clinical presentation of cat scratch disease in children at Garrahan Hospital

La infección por Bartonella henselae (BH) adopta diversas formas de presentación clínica en pediatría. Según la bibliografía la forma de presentación más frecuente en pacientes inmunocompetentes es la linfadenopatía única asociada a fiebre. En el 85 % de los casos se compromete un solo ganglio siendo los axilares y los epitrocleares los más frecuentemente involucrados. Existen otras formas de presentación menos frecuentes que debemos tener en consideración, para poder realizar un diagnóstico precoz e indicar un tratamiento adecuado si así lo requiere. El diagnóstico requiere de la sospecha clínica del equipo de salud tratante, junto al antecedente epidemiológico, los hallazgos clínicos del examen físico y la realización de serologías que incluyan el dosaje de inmunoglobulina M y G. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron reconocer las manifestaciones clínicas típicas y atípicas de la EAG por Bartonella henselae, describir la epidemiología, características clínicas y evolución de esta enfermedad que se presentaron en nuestro hospital. Se estudiaron un total de 187 pacientes. La media de edad fue de 7.6 años (rango 1-14); siendo 53.5% de género masculino. Las formas de presentación más frecuentes en nuestro trabajo fueron la adenitis y la fiebre. La mayoría recibió diversos esquemas de tratamiento antibiótico, secundario al retraso en el diagnóstico. La tasa de hospitalización fue muy baja, remitió con tratamiento ambulatorio con antibióticos o sin ellos (AU)

Bartonella henselae infection has different clinical presentations in pediatrics. According to the literature, the most common form of presentation in immunocompetent patients is single lymphadenopathy associated with fever. In 85 % of the cases a single lymph node is involved, with the axillary and epitrochlear nodes being the most commonly involved. There are other, less frequent, forms of presentation that should be taken into consideration in order to make an early diagnosis and indicate appropriate treatment if required. Diagnosis relies on clinical suspicion by the treating healthcare team, together with the epidemiological history, clinical findings on physical examination, and serology including immunoglobulin M and G dosage. The objectives of this study were to identify both the typical and atypical clinical manifestations of Bartonella henselae cat scratch disease, to describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of cases presenting at our hospital. A total of 187 patients were studied. The mean age was 7.6 years (range 1-14); 53.5% were male. The most frequent forms of presentation in our study were adenitis and fever. Most of them received different antibiotic treatment regimens due to delayed diagnosis. The hospitalization rate was very low and the disease typically resolved with outpatient treatment, with or without antibiotics (AU)

Bartonella henselae as a putative trigger for chronic type 2 leprosy reactions.

Leprosy reactions are an acute inflammatory phenomenon that can arise before diagnosis, during treatment, or after cure of leprosy. These reactions are considered one of the main diseases that cause physical disabilities. Immunosuppressive treatment for these immune responses makes these patients susceptible to coinfections, which can trigger new leprosy reactions. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of infection by Bartonella sp. in blood samples from 47 patients who had untreatable episodes of type 2 leprosy reactions for more than six months, comparing them with a control group. Cultures and molecular methods (PCR) were used. Amplicons from species-specific reactions and sequencing showed a higher prevalence of Bartonella henselae infection in patients, 19/47 (40.4 %), compared to control, 9/50 (18.0 %), p = 0.0149. Five patients accepted treatment for coinfection, and all showed improvement in leprosy reactions with treatment for B. henselae infection. We conclude that these bacteria can trigger chronic reactions of type 2 leprosy and should be investigated in these patients. SUMMARY LINE: Patients who have chronic type 2 leprosy reactions are more susceptible to Bartonella henselae infection than controls: 19/47 (40.4 %) compared 9/50 (18.0 %), p = 0.0149.

Acute perimyocarditis associated with Bartonella henselae infection.

Perimyocarditis involves inflammation of the heart muscle and surrounding tissue, causing reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Typically viral, but occasionally bacterial, this condition can arise from Bartonella henselae, a rare yet potentially serious pathogen that can lead to cardiac inflammation and subsequent heart failure. Since this bacterium is mainly associated with cat scratch disease-which is self-limiting and has a mild disease course-B. henselae's potential role in cardiac disease is underestimated. We present a mid-30s man, immunocompetent, who presented to the emergency department with acute heart failure due to B. henselae-associated perimyocarditis. Despite not recalling any scratches or bites from cats, the patient had been living with cats, which likely exposed him. This case highlights the varied clinical presentations of B. henselae-associated heart disease and underscores the importance of considering this pathogen as a potential cause of perimyocarditis, particularly in individuals with exposure to cats.

A Case Series of Cat-Scratch Disease with Ocular Manifestations: Clinical Findings and Treatment Approach.

Objectives: To present the clinical and demographic characteristics, imaging findings, diagnosis and treatment approach in cases of cat scratch disease (CSD) with ocular involvement. Materials and Methods: The records of 19 patients followed-up and treated between 2010 and 2020, including detailed ophthalmological examinations, imaging findings, and treatment approach, were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Twenty-three eyes of 19 patients, 7 female (37%) and 12 male (63%), were included in the study. The mean age was 34.1±13.3 (range: 11-56) years, and the mean follow-up duration was 12.6±18.0 (range: 1-81) months. Unilateral involvement was observed in 15 cases (79%). Cat contact was reported in 14 cases (74%). In 6 cases (32%), flu-like symptoms were present before the ocular complaints. The mean visual acuity (VA) at presentation was 0.42±0.36 (range: 0.001-1.0). Anterior uveitis was observed in 3 eyes (13%). Posterior segment findings included neuroretinitis in 14 (61%), superficial retinal infiltrate(s) in 8 (35%), papillitis in 3 (13%), branch retinal artery occlusion in 2 (8%), and cilioretinal artery occlusion in 1 (4%) of the eyes. All cases were positive for Bartonella henselae immunglobulin (Ig)M and/or IgG. Systemic antibiotic therapy was administered to all patients. Intravenous pulse or oral corticosteroids were given, especially in cases with optic disc involvement. The mean final VA was 0.80±0.25 (range: 0.01-1.0). Conclusion: CSD may present with different ocular involvement patterns. Apart from the classical neuroretinitis and macular star appearance, patients may present with isolated optic disc edema, branch retinal artery occlusion, and retinal infiltrations. In such patients, cat contact history and Bartonella serology should be evaluated to differentiate CSD.

A case of hepatosplenic cat scratch disease with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is associated with Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) infection caused by cat scratches or bites. It typically presents with lymphadenitis and fever. However, there are atypical cases such as hepatosplenic CSD, which presents with specific lesions in the liver and spleen. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and severe multisystem disorder triggered by infections, cancers, or autoimmune diseases. We experienced a rare case of hepatosplenic CSD with HLH in a non-immunocompromised adult. A 78-year-old woman complained of fever and fatigue. Laboratory tests revealed anemia and liver dysfunction; abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed splenomegaly and nodular hypodense areas in the spleen. In addition, the levels of ferritin and serum soluble IL-2R were markedly elevated, so clinical diagnosis of HLH was made. Positron emission tomography/CT revealed diffuse fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the liver and spleen suggesting malignant lymphoma, while the pathological findings from liver biopsy suggested infectious diseases. Although she had no cat bites and scratches, she had many cats; therefore, serum B. henselae antibody titers were measured. The B. henselae IgG and IgM titer were 1:128 and 1:20; thus, she was diagnosed with hepatosplenic CSD. Patients with hepatosplenic nodular lesions and contact with cats should be considered for this disease.

Cat-scratch disease manifesting as uveitis and binocular fundus nodular lesions: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Cat-scratch disease typically presents with various ocular manifestations such as uveitis, vitritis, retinitis, retinochoroiditis, and optic neuritis. However, fundus nodular lesions was rarely reported. In our study, we reported a case of Cat-Scratch disease with binocular fundus nodular lesions. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year old male presented with uveitis in the right eye and bilateral fundus nodular lesions after indirect contact with unvaccinated cats. Comprehensive ancillary examinations including wide-angle fundus photography, ultrasonography, fluorescein fundus angiography, optical coherence tomography, and orbital magnetic resonance imaging were performed to elucidate the multidimensional features of the binocular lesions. Metagenomics next-generation sequencing was utilized to confirm the diagnosis of Cat-scratch disease. The patient's condition showed improvement after a 6-month combination treatment regimen involving systemic administration of doxycycline hyclate and methylprednisolone tablets, as well as local application of mydriatic and corticosteroid eye drops. CONCLUSIONS: We firstly reported a case of Cat-scratch disease presenting simultaneously with uveitis and fundus nodular lesions caused by Bartonella henselae infection in a child. Timely diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids showed promising outcomes for the prognosis of these ocular disorders.

Unilateral Conjunctivitis With Multifocal Granulomatous Lesions in a Child Aged 10 Years.

This case report discusses a diagnosis of Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome in a child aged 10 years who presented with a granulomatous conjunctivitis in the left eye.