Demonstration of Bartonella grahamii DNA in ocular fluids of a patient with neuroretinitis

We describe the clinical and laboratory features of a 55-year-old human imm unodeficiency virus-negative female patient who presented with bilateral in traocular inflammatory disease (neuroretinitis type) and behavioral changes caused by a Bartonella grahamii infection. Diagnosis was based on the PCR analysis of DNA extracted from the intraocular fluids. DNA analysis of the PCR product revealed a 100% identity with the 16S rRNA gene sequence of B. grahamii. The patient was successfully treated with doxycycline (200 mg/day ) and rifampin (600 mg/day) for 4 weeks. This is the first report that demo nstrates the presence of a Bartonella species in the intraocular fluids of a nonimmunocompromised patient and that indicates that B. grahamii is patho genic for humans.