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

Abstract

Background Bartonella spp. can cause a variety of diseases, such as lymphadenopathies, cat scratch disease, and trench fever, but can also give rise to many non-specific symptoms. No data exists regarding the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in patients with musculoskeletal complaints, nor among blood donors in Poland.Methods The presence of anti-Bartonella IgM and IgG in the serum of blood donors (n = 65) (Lodz, Poland) and in the patients of the Department of Rheumatology Clinic (n = 40) suffering from musculoskeletal symptoms was tested by immunofluorescence. Blood samples were cultured on enriched media. Epidemiological questionnaires were used to identify key potential risk factors, such as sex, age, contact with companion animals, and bites from insects or animals. Results Altogether, 27 of the 105 tested subjects were seropositive for Bartonella henselae IgG (23%) and three for Bartonella quintana IgG (2.85%); IgMs against B. henselae were found in three individuals (2.85%), and IgMs against B. quintana were found in one (1.54%). No statistically significant difference was found between the prevalence of B. henselae in the blood of donors or patients and the presence of unexplained musculoskeletal complaints (23% vs 30%). Individuals who had kept or been scratched by cats were not more likely to be B. henselae seropositive (p > 0.01). Tick bites were more commonly reported in patients, but insignificantly (p > 0.01). Conclusion This is the first report of a high seroprevalence of anti-Bartonella IgG in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms and in blood donors in Poland. The obtained results indicate that such seroprevalence may have a possible significance in the development of musculoskeletal symptoms, although it should be confirmed on a larger group of patients. Asymptomatic bacteremia might occur and pose a threat to recipients of blood from infected donors. Hence, there is a need for more detailed research, including molecular biology methods, to clarify the potential risk of Bartonella spp. being spread to immunocompromised individuals. Key Points• This is the first study presenting high seroprevalence of Bartonella spp. in Poland.• IgG and IgM antibodies against B. quintana were found in blood samples of blood donors.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies against Tick-Borne Pathogens in Czech Patients with Suspected Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome

“…In a study from Poland, seroprevalence in healthy blood donors was compared with that in rheumatoid patients with unexplained musculoskeletal symptoms. Overall, 23% of the samples tested were positive for antibodies, but no significantly higher frequency was found in rheumatoid patients, in persons previously scratched by a cat, or in persons with a history of tick bites [51]. Different results were obtained in an earlier study from Poland, where persons at increased risk for tick bites (farmers, forestry workers) were seropositive in 30.4% of cases, but the control group was "only" 8.9% [52].…”

Molecular Survey of Bartonella Species in Stray Cats and Dogs, Humans, and Questing Ticks from Portugal

“…has been previously detected in veterinary practitioners by a cPCR method targeting the ITS gene [ 43 ] and on cat owners from Spain (using the same method) [ 30 ], with a prevalence of 28% and 27%, respectively. For serology assessments, an incidence of 7% was reported for B. henselae and 1% for B. quintana on a survey performed in Sweden, with a sample of 224 patients [ 44 ], while another survey performed in Poland had a reported incidence of 23% seropositive cases for B. henselae and 2.85% for B. quintana from 105 tested subjects, composed of 65 blood donors and 40 patients suffering from musculoskeletal symptoms [ 45 ]. Despite these reports, the samples screened in the present study were negative for the bacteria, also including the blood cultured samples.…”

“…DNA in ticks and, more recently, the reports of Bartonella spp. seroprevalence in tick-exposed patients from Sweden and Poland, although the last one lacked statistical significance [ 44 , 45 ], which has put them on the spot [ 50 ]. In the present study, despite sampling over 260 ticks collected in different locations across Portugal mainland, Bartonella sp.…”

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana Infection and Impact of Related Risk Factors in People from Eastern Slovakia

“…Generally, the prevalence of Bartonella infections in humans varies from 0.2% to 30% on average, depending on the investigated group and the diagnostic method used. For example, in a study conducted in Germany, the seropositivity rates among the healthy adults are 30%, in Greece 19.8%, in Poland 25.85%, in Austria 26.5%, in Sweden 16%, and 8.7% in Spain [25,[34][35][36]. On the other hand, bartonellosis in Slovakia is not subject to mandatory reporting and, therefore, it is not possible to accurately determine incidence and prevalence.…”