Infections and cardiovascular disease: is Bartonella henselae contributing to this matter?

Salvatore, Paola; Zullo, Alberto; Sommese, Linda; Colicchio, Roberta; Picascia, Antonietta; Schiano, Concetta; Mancini, Francesco Paolo; Napoli, Claudio

doi:10.1099/jmm.0.000099

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 121 publications

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“…It has been proposed that B. henselae infection of endothelial progenitor cells could reduce both the number of these cells and their functionality (216). In so doing, the natural repair role for endothelial progenitor cells would be diminished, thereby indirectly contributing to the growth of atherosclerotic plaque (217). Further study is needed to support the role of the interaction of Bartonella with both endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial cells.…”

Section: Bartonella and Disease Disease Syndromes Associated With Barmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bartonella species share the ability to infect erythrocytes in their natural hosts, and it has been speculated that a primary niche exists to allow persistence of these bacteria in the host and to seed the bloodstream for subsequent transmission by the arthropod vector. The preponderance of evidence supports the role of the endothelium in serving as this primary niche (296), but it has also been suggested that endothelial progenitor cells may also function as a niche reservoir (215)(216)(217)308). Intracellular survival in endothelial cells would afford an opportunity for immune evasion and may explain the stealthy nature of these pathogens (223).…”

Section: Growth In Biofilmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bartonella Species, an Emerging Cause of Blood-Culture-Negative Endocarditis

et al. 2017

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Since the reclassification of the genus in 1993, the number of species has grown from 1 to 45 currently designated members. Likewise, the association of different species with human disease continues to grow, as does the range of clinical presentations associated with these bacteria. Among these, blood-culture-negative endocarditis stands out as a common, often undiagnosed, clinical presentation of infection with several different species. The limitations of laboratory tests resulting in this underdiagnosis of endocarditis are discussed. The varied clinical picture of infection and a review of clinical aspects of endocarditis caused by are presented. We also summarize the current knowledge of the molecular basis of pathogenesis, focusing on surface adhesins in the two species that most commonly cause endocarditis, and. We discuss evidence that surface adhesins are important factors for autoaggregation and biofilm formation by species. Finally, we propose that biofilm formation is a critical step in the formation of vegetative masses during-mediated endocarditis and represents a potential reservoir for persistence by these bacteria.

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Section: Bartonella and Disease Disease Syndromes Associated With Barmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Growth In Biofilmsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bartonella Species, an Emerging Cause of Blood-Culture-Negative Endocarditis

et al. 2017

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“…Myocarditis and pericarditis have been described [ 15 ]. Moreover, as B. henselae has been found able to infect endothelial cells and reduce their number and functionality, it has been supposed that this pathogen could play a role in the determination of acute and long-term vascular alterations [ 16 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The real importance of the prescribed antibiotic treatment for the resolution of this case could be debated, as the efficacy of antibiotics in atypical CSD cases is not precisely defined and official recommendations are lacking. Suggestions for antibiotic treatment are usually based only on personal experience and expert opinion [ 16 ]. However, the rapid improvement of all clinical manifestations of the disease, including the most severe ones, such as hepatic and splenic micro-abscesses, seems to indicate a possible direct effect of the antibiotic therapy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Case of Atypical Bartonellosis in a 4-Year-Old Immunocompetent Child

et al. 2021

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In most cases, infection due to Bartonella henselae causes a mild disease presenting with a regional lymphadenopathy frequently associated with a low-grade fever, headache, poor appetite and exhaustion that spontaneously resolves itself in a few weeks. As the infection is generally transmitted by cats through scratching or biting, the disease is named cat scratch disease (CSD). However, in 5–20% of cases, mainly in immunocompromised patients, systemic involvement can occur and CSD may result in major illness. This report describes a case of systemic CSD diagnosed in an immunocompetent 4-year-old child that can be used as an example of the problems that pediatricians must solve to reach a diagnosis of atypical CSD. Despite the child’s lack of history suggesting any contact with cats and the absence of regional lymphadenopathy, the presence of a high fever, deterioration of their general condition, increased inflammatory biomarkers, hepatosplenic lesions (i.e., multiple abscesses), pericardial effusion with mild mitral valve regurgitation and a mild dilatation of the proximal and medial portion of the right coronary artery, seroconversion for B. henselae (IgG 1:256) supported the diagnosis of atypical CSD. Administration of oral azithromycin was initiated (10 mg/kg/die for 3 days) with a progressive normalization of clinical, laboratory and US hepatosplenic and cardiac findings. This case shows that the diagnosis of atypical CSD is challenging. The nonspecific, composite and variable clinical features of this disease require a careful evaluation in order to achieve a precise diagnosis and to avoid both a delayed diagnosis and therapy with a risk of negative evolution.

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“…A murine model of chronic infection in immunocompromised SCID/Beige mice showed the ability of Bartonella to recapitulate human pathologies; indeed, in this model, bacteria grow in extracellular aggregates, embedded within collagen matrix similar to the observations in BA, BP, and catch-scratch disease (Chiaraviglio et al, 2010). In addition, B. henselae can infect and damage endothelial progenitors cells (EPCs) reducing the endothelium regenerating potential (Salvatore et al, 2008, 2015; Costa et al, 2010). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Approach for Evaluation of Bacteroides fragilis Protective Role against Bartonella henselae Liver Damage in Immunocompromised Murine Model

et al. 2016

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Bartonella henselae is a gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium and is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease. Our previous data have established that Bacteroides fragilis colonization is able to prevent B. henselae damages through the polysaccharide A (PSA) in an experimental murine model. In order to determine whether the PSA is essential for the protection against pathogenic effects of B. henselae in immunocompromised hosts, SCID mice were co-infected with B. fragilis wild type or its mutant B. fragilis ΔPSA and the effects of infection on murine tissues have been observed by High-Frequency Ultrasound (HFUS), histopathological examination, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). For the first time, echostructure, hepatic lobes length, vascular alterations, and indirect signs of hepatic dysfunctions, routinely used as signs of disease in humans, have been analyzed in an immunocompromised murine model. Our findings showed echostructural alterations in all infected mice compared with the Phosphate Buffer Solution (PBS) control group; further, those infected with B. henselae and co-infected with B. henselae/B. fragilis ΔPSA presented the major echostructural alterations. Half of the mice infected with B. henselae and all those co-infected with B. henselae/B. fragilis ΔPSA have showed an altered hepatic echogenicity compared with the renal cortex. The echogenicity score of co-infected mice with B. henselae/B. fragilis ΔPSA differed significantly compared with the PBS control group (p < 0.05). Moreover the inflammation score of the histopathological evaluation was fairly concordant with ultrasound findings. Ultrastructural analysis performed by TEM revealed no significant alterations in liver samples of SCID mice infected with B. fragilis wild type while those infected with B. fragilis ΔPSA showed the presence of collagen around the main vessels compared with the PBS control group. The liver samples of mice infected with B. henselae showed macro-areas rich in collagen, stellate cells, and histiocytic cells. Interestingly, our data demonstrated that immunocompromised SCID mice infected with B. henselae and co-infected with B. henselae/B. fragilis ΔPSA showed the most severe morpho-structural liver damage. In addition, these results suggests that the HFUS together with histopathological evaluation could be considered good imaging approach to evaluate hepatic alterations.

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Infections and cardiovascular disease: is Bartonella henselae contributing to this matter?

Cited by 6 publications

References 121 publications

Bartonella Species, an Emerging Cause of Blood-Culture-Negative Endocarditis

Bartonella Species, an Emerging Cause of Blood-Culture-Negative Endocarditis

A Case of Atypical Bartonellosis in a 4-Year-Old Immunocompetent Child

Novel Approach for Evaluation of Bacteroides fragilis Protective Role against Bartonella henselae Liver Damage in Immunocompromised Murine Model

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