Bartonella: a Phantom Infection

Quite often I will see a patient for nebulous signs, and routine testing is unremarkable. In the current culture of instant gratification, a negative test means NEGATIVE, correct?

Well, not so fast.

I think a better term would be, “Current methodology has not detected anything”. Similar to DNA of past crime scenes, in many cases current “biomarkers” of illness may not give the full story. 

I will use my own son as an example. Back when he was 13 years old, he returned from a European Trip with the youth organization, People to People. I laugh as I reflect of his story at being hit by Italian women with Gucci hand bags because the tour guides moved his American teenage tourists group to the front of the line for a tour of the Vatican. Shortly after his return, he developed unrelenting headaches that were so debilitating he went to bed for 2 weeks. At the time, current testing could not identify the cause.MRI’s, x-rays, infectious disease tests, cultures, complete blood profiles – the list was endless. 

Through Divine intervention and a veterinary school connection, the story had a different outcome than it could have. My son had Bartonella. This was diagnosed with testing developed by Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt, a veterinarian at the NCSU college of Veterinary Medicine.  His current company, Galaxy Diagnostics www.galaxydx.com, has made huge differences in the lives of many individuals, human and animals alike. 

WHY HAS BARTONELLA BEEN SO DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE?

Also called “cat scratch disease,” Bartonella is a bacterium that is transmitted from cat scratches. In addition, it is speculated there is transmission from other vectors such as fleas and mosquitoes in people with no direct access to pets. One reason it is difficult to diagnose is the organism commonly lives within cells rather than in the bloodstream. Because of this, blood tests are often falsely negative. 

AS A VETERINARIAN,  IS THERE A PROFESSIONAL RISK TO CONTRACTING BARTONELLA, cat scratch disease?

Yes, there is an undercurrent of concern that the veterinary community may be at risk of this silent disease. I experienced this firsthand 20 years ago when I awoke with a fever and very swollen lymph nodes after a bad cat bite/scratch. It is believed that 75% of emerging infectious diseases may be zoonotic (passed from animals to people either directly or indirectly through vectors such as fleas, ticks, mosquitoes).

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

There are a variety of methods, such as specialized testing of tissues, a series of collected blood samples using DNA analysis, and a special culture media such as that mentioned at the GALAXY DIAGNOSTIC TEST SITE, among others. Even so, false negative results of these in antibody laboratory testing can be frustrating. 

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS IN PEOPLE? 

The presenting complaints are almost anything from chronic fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, neurological signs, weight loss, joint pain, and a series of negative tests on most conventional lab tests for traditional, infectious diseases.  Many are concurrently infected with other diseases, and in those cases it becomes more complicated to develop an accurate diagnosis. As a result many are placed on antidepressants, sleeping pills, anxiolytics, anti-convulsants, and this list goes on and on as psychological disorders become overwhelming when no one can find a physical reason for the illness.  Many with concurrent Lyme disease experience similar frustration. 

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS IN DOGS AND CATS? 

Pets experience many of the similar signs of people with the exception that their headaches may be manifested as depression and hiding. Others may develop severe oral, heart, eye, liver, and other chronic illnesses. 

HOW IS IT TREATED?

Traditionally, a variety of antibiotic protocols have been implemented. Research is continuing as to non-traditional treatments including amino acid infusions and agents to treat concurrent infections. Unfortunately, by the time it is diagnosed there are chronic changes in many tissues that may be challenging to reverse. 

Betsy Sigmon DVM, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, Canine & Feline

Creature Comforts Animal Hospital 

Cary, NC.