Risk Factors for Bartonella species Infection in Blood Donors from Southeast Brazil

Abstract

Bacteria from the genus Bartonella are emerging blood-borne bacteria, capable of causing long-lasting infection in marine and terrestrial mammals, including humans. Bartonella are generally well adapted to their main host, causing persistent infection without clinical manifestation. However, these organisms may cause severe disease in natural or accidental hosts. In humans, Bartonella species have been detected from sick patients presented with diverse disease manifestations, including cat scratch disease, trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, endocarditis, polyarthritis, or granulomatous inflammatory disease. However, with the advances in diagnostic methods, subclinical bloodstream infection in humans has been reported, with the potential for transmission through blood transfusion been recently investigated by our group. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with Bartonella species infection in asymptomatic blood donors presented at a major blood bank in Southeastern Brazil. Five hundred blood donors were randomly enrolled and tested for Bartonella species infection by specialized blood cultured coupled with high-sensitive PCR assays. Epidemiological questionnaires were designed to cover major potential risk factors, such as age, gender, ethnicity, contact with companion animals, livestock, or wild animals, bites from insects or animal, economical status, among other factors. Based on multivariate logistic regression, bloodstream infection with B. henselae or B. clarridgeiae was associated with cat contact (adjusted OR: 3.4, 95% CI: 1.1–9.6) or history of tick bite (adjusted OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.3–13.4). These risk factors should be considered during donor screening, as bacteremia by these Bartonella species may not be detected by traditional laboratory screening methods, and it may be transmitted by blood transfusion.

Bartonella spp. Prevalence (Serology, Culture, and PCR) in Sanitary Workers in La Rioja Spain

“…This genus has been increasingly associated with a wide spectrum of zoonotic emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. The number of validated species (more than 35), potential species (at least 17) and subspecies (at least three) continues to increase <http://www.bacterio.net/bartonella.html>. Some species, such as B. bacilliformis, cause potentially life threatening illness, but are limited geographically by the transmitting vector, whereas other species such as B. quintana are transmitted under poor hygienic conditions throughout the world.…”

“…Under a One Health prism, the collective understanding of Bartonella epidemiology and pathogenesis continues to change [13]. After recent studies in Brazil documented Bartonella infection (positive PCR/DNA sequencing results) in healthy blood donors [15][16][17], the authors initiated this study to assess the prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection in sanitary workers in a localized region of Spain.…”

The seroprevalence of Bartonella spp. in the blood of patients with musculoskeletal complaints and blood donors, Poland: a pilot study

“…are mostly limited to endemic regions, the data concerning the occurrence of anti-Bartonella spp. antibodies in healthy populations is scarce [25]. Seroprevalence may differ by region, e.g., 16.1% of blood donors in Sweden were found to be seropositive to all Bartonella spp.…”

Demographic characteristics of teenage boys with horizontal striae distensae of the lower back

“…No medical organizations back any of these websites, nor do the websites cite any published medical literature supporting the accuracy of their information. Although scientific studies have found tick bites to be a risk factor for infection with Bartonella species, the capacity for ticks to transmit B. henselae is the subject of substantial debate . It is important for primary care providers to be aware of these online forums, because they often underlie parental concerns.…”