ROCHALIMAEA - FROM BACILLARY ANGIOMATOSIS TO CAT-SCRATCH DISEASE

Bacteria of genus Rochalimaea considered for a long time as curiositie s at the beginning to the century, are coming out the trenchs. Linked with human disease, R. quintana and recently R. henselae (novel specie s) are mainly obtained from blood, bacillary angiomatosis nodules and liver biopsy observed in HIV infected patients, but also in immuno-com petent patients. Furthermore the link between such clinical syndromes and the contact with cats recognized R. henselae as good responsible t o play a significant role in cat scratch disease. Fastidious growth (a t least between two and four weeks) require the use of fresh or chocol ate blood agar after lysis-centrifugation, so far serological diagnosi s and molecular approach (PCR, sequencing) appeared useful for diagnos is in connection with histopathologic study. Unlike the cat scratch di sease, the various forms of bacillary angiomatosis respond slowly to m acrolides (erythromycin) or tetracyclines. Finally other developments are expected for the future for Rochalimaea. So far clinicians includi ng pediatricians shoul be aware of their wide spectrum.