BARTONELLA (ROCHALIMAEA) INFECTIONS - BEYOND CAT-SCRATCH

Five species of Bartonella have been found to infect humans, henselae, quintana, elizabethae, bacilliformis, and vinsonii. The most common o f these in North America are Bartonella quintana and Bartonella hensel ae, the agents of trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, and parenchyma l peliosis, and in the case of B. henselae cat-scratch disease. B. bac illiformis is endemic in Peru and Ecuador, where it causes oroya fever or Carrion's disease. New methods of diagnosing Bartonella infections have resulted in increased recognition of the many manifestations of these infections. Early recognition is crucial, as these are potential ly fatal opportunistic infections that usually respond rapidly to appr opriate antimicrobial therapy.