Ocular bartonellosis

PURPOSE: To review recent advances in the basic and clinical biology of Bar tonella-related eye disease. METHOD: A review of the pertinent medical literature was performed. RESULTS: A number of novel Bartonella species have been identified over the past decade. Of these, Bartonella henselae, the etiologic agent in cat scr atch disease, is most often associated with ocular complications, which may include Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome, neuroretinitis, and focal retino choroiditis. Although cat and flea exposure appear to be the main risk fact ors for contracting cat scratch disease, the diagnosis of ocular bartonello sis relies primarily on the recognition of suggestive clinical signs in con junction with positive serologic testing. B, henselae-associated ocular com plications are usually self-limited but may be treated with doxycycline or erythromycin, with or without rifampin, when the infections are severe or s ight-threatening. CONCLUSIONS: B. henselae infection is common and should be considered in pa tients with Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome, neuroretinitis, or focal reti nochoroiditis, particularly when there is a history of cat or flea exposure . (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science inc. All rights reserved.