Diagnostics of Human Infections Caused by Bartonella henselae

Author(s):  
P.M. Tierno
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 318-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Greigert ◽  
Julie Brunet ◽  
Basma Ouarti ◽  
Maureen Laroche ◽  
Alexander W Pfaff ◽  
...  

Abstract Fleas are ectoparasites of various animals, including Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Primates: Hominidae). Among the species relevant to the human health field, either due to their dermatopathological potential or because of their role as vectors of microorganisms responsible for infectious diseases, such as plague or murine typhus, are the human flea, oriental rat flea, closely related cat and dog fleas, and chigoe flea. However, other species can accidentally infest humans. We have herein reported two unusual cases of humans infested and bitten by Archaeopsylla erinacei, the hedgehog flea. This species has been identified using stereomicroscopy, on the base of key characteristics. Furthermore, a brief literature review has revealed that hedgehog fleas could carry human-infectious agents, such as Rickettsia felis Bouyer et al. 2001 (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) or Bartonella henselae Regnery et al.1992 (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae). Using molecular biology, we thus tested nine A. erinacei specimens taken from these patients, for several bacteria species commonly associated with hematophagous arthropods, implicated in human pathology. However, all our samples were proven negative. The role of A. erinacei in human epidemiology has never been evaluated to date. This report sought to remind us that these fleas can be accidental parasites in humans. In addition, recent findings pertaining to bacteria of medical interest that are present in these insects should be brought to the fore, given that the question of their role as vectors in human infections remains unanswered and deserves further investigation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 365-381
Author(s):  
Ny Anjara Fifi Ravelomanantsoa ◽  
Sarah Guth ◽  
Angelo Andrianiaina ◽  
Santino Andry ◽  
Anecia Gentles ◽  
...  

Seven zoonoses — human infections of animal origin — have emerged from the Coronaviridae family in the past century, including three viruses responsible for significant human mortality (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2) in the past twenty years alone. These three viruses, in addition to two older CoV zoonoses (HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63) are believed to be originally derived from wild bat reservoir species. We review the molecular biology of the bat-derived Alpha- and Betacoronavirus genera, highlighting features that contribute to their potential for cross-species emergence, including the use of well-conserved mammalian host cell machinery for cell entry and a unique capacity for adaptation to novel host environments after host switching. The adaptive capacity of coronaviruses largely results from their large genomes, which reduce the risk of deleterious mutational errors and facilitate range-expanding recombination events by offering heightened redundancy in essential genetic material. Large CoV genomes are made possible by the unique proofreading capacity encoded for their RNA-dependent polymerase. We find that bat-borne SARS-related coronaviruses in the subgenus Sarbecovirus, the source clade for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, present a particularly poignant pandemic threat, due to the extraordinary viral genetic diversity represented among several sympatric species of their horseshoe bat hosts. To date, Sarbecovirus surveillance has been almost entirely restricted to China. More vigorous field research efforts tracking the circulation of Sarbecoviruses specifically and Betacoronaviruses more generally is needed across a broader global range if we are to avoid future repeats of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 316-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Schiellerup ◽  
Karen Krogfelt ◽  
Åse Bengård Andersen

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Mennini ◽  
Diletta Valentini ◽  
Chiara Di Camillo ◽  
Anna C. Vittucci ◽  
Annalisa Grandin ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 454-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti ◽  
Divya Dheer ◽  
Davinder Singh ◽  
Gulshan Kumar ◽  
Manvika Karnatak ◽  
...  

Background: Thymol is a natural phenolic monoterpenoid widely used in pharmaceutical and food preservative applications. Thymol isomeric with carvacrol, extracted primarily from Thymus species (Trachyspermum ammi) and other plants sources such as Baccharisgrise bachii and Centipeda minima, has ethnopharmacological characteristics. <p></p> Methods: This review was prepared by analyzing articles published on thymol moiety in last decade and selected from Science Direct, Scopus, Pub Med, Web of Science and SciFinder. The selected articles are classified and gives brief introduction about thymol and its isolation, illustrates its natural as well as synthetic sources, and also therapeutic benefits of thymol worldwide <p></p> Results: Thymol has been covering different endeavors such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiarrhoeal, anthelmintic, analgesic, digestive, abortifacient, antihypertensive, spermicidal, depigmenting, antileishmanial, anticholinesterase, insecticidal and many others. This phenolic compound is among the essential scaffolds for medicinal chemists to synthesize more bio-active molecules by further derivatization of the thymol moiety. <p></p> Conclusion: Thymol is an interesting scaffold due to its different activities and derivatization of thymol is proved to enhance its biological activities. However, more robust, randomised, controlled clinical trials would be desirable with well-characterised thymol preparations to corroborate its beneficial effects in diseased patients. Moreover, in view of the potential use of thymol and thymol-rich essential oils in the treatment of human infections, comprehensive studies on chronic and acute toxicity and also teratogenicity are to be recommended.


Author(s):  
Varsha Gupta ◽  
Lipika Singhal ◽  
Kritika Pal ◽  
Mani Bhushan ◽  
Rajeev Sharma ◽  
...  

Introduction: Human Salmonella infections have been classically distinguised into diseases caused by typhoidal and non-typhoidal salmonella (NTS). Typhiodal salmonella includes S. enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi that cause the systemic disease but are restricted to human infections, while NTS consists mainly of other serovars that predominantly cause self-limiting gastroenteritis in humans. Localisation of foci with persisting infection occurs due to dissemination of the bacteria throughout the body and can cause a variety of rare clinical syndromes at aberrant sites. Fournier’s gangrene, a rapidly progressive, often fatal, necrotizing fasciitis of the external genitalia and perineum due to Salmonella Typhimurium, is a rare manifestation and has never been reported. Case: A 22-year-old male, apparently healthy patient with no relevant past medical history presented to surgical emergency with chief complaints of swelling of bilateral scrotal area. Infective etiology was considered and a diagnosis of fournier’s gangrene was made. Pure growth of Salmonella Typhimurium was obtained after repeated subculture and was identified biochemically and on serotyping, as Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium using specific antisera. Conclusion: In our case report, we describe a case of fournier’s gangrene due to Salmonella Typhimurium in an otherwise healthy male to highlight the unusual presentation of Non typhoidal salmonellae at an aberrant site. We also emphasize the importance of using selective media like Selenite F broth for isolation of Salmonella Typhimurium from a pus sample.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 735
Author(s):  
João R. Mesquita ◽  
Ana C. Oliveira ◽  
Frederico Neves ◽  
Jose R. Mendoza ◽  
Maria F. Luz ◽  
...  

Free-roaming dogs and cats represent potential reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne pathogens shedding to the human population. Given the health impact of these pathogens, we searched free-roaming dogs and cats included in an animal population control program from Luanda, Angola, for Bartonella and hemotropic mycoplasma infection. We report the detection of Bartonella henselae (2/66; 3%), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (5/66; 7.5%) and Mycoplasma haemofelis (1/66; 1.5%) in cats. One dog was found positive for Mycoplasma haemocanis (1/20; 5%). This is the first report of Bartonella henselae infections in stray cats and of hemotropic mycoplasmas in cats and dogs from Angola. Despite the relatively small sample size, our results sustain the hypothesis of uncontrolled circulation of these agents in highly mobile synanthropic animal populations of Luanda. Population and vector control could contribute to reducing the likelihood for animal-to-animal and animal-to-human transmission.


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