Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases

Bartonella Infections in Rodents and Bats

Bacteria of Bartonella are majorly hemotropic. They are gram-negative bacteria associated with erythrocytes and endothelial cells of mammals. Members within the genus bartonella have expanded during last three decades. Human pathogens B. bacilliformis, B. quintana and B. henselae, B. alsatica, B. elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. koehlerae, B. clarridgeiae, B. washoensis, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii, B. vinsonii subsp. arupensis, B. tamiae, and B. rochalimae, have been described as human pathogens. A Bartonella infection causes fever that resolves quickly on its own to potentially fatal diseases with cardiovascular system. These shown the emerging medical importance of bartonellae.