Bartonella infections: an update

The genus Bartonella is presently composed of 13 species. Six species ar-e known to be human pathogens. B. bacilliformis, the agent of Carrion's disea se; B. quintana, the agent of trench fever and one of the two agents of bac illary angiomatosis; B. henselae, the agent of cat scratch disease and the other agent of bacillary angiomatosis; B. clarridgeiae, B. elizabethae and B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis have been also involved in a limited number of human infections Epidemiology of bartonella infections is characterised by mammal reservoir and arthropod vector: Present knowldge of the etiology, e pidemiology, clinical features of bartonella infections as well as diagnosi s, treatment and prevention are presented.