Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in a patient with aortic root abscess and endocarditis

Logan, JMJ; Hall, JL; Chalker, VJ; O’Connell, B; Birtles, RJ

Abstract

Introduction. Bartonella species are increasingly recognized as agents of culture-negative endocarditis. However, to date, almost all human cases have been associated with two members of the genus, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana. B. henselae infections are zoonotic, with domestic cats serving as reservoir hosts for the pathogen. Bartonella clarridgeiae also exploits cats as reservoir hosts, but its zoonotic potential is far less established.

Case presentation. A 34-year-old male presented with palpitations after a history of aortic incompetence. During surgery for an aortic valve replacement, two vegetations were found on the aortic valve. PCR analysis of the vegetation demonstrated the presence of Bartonella species and so the patient was treated post-operatively with ceftriaxone and doxycycline, making a good recovery. Further PCR-based analysis of the patient’s aortic vegetation confirmed the presence of B. clarridgeiae .

Conclusion. This report expands the number of Bartonella species associated with endocarditis and provides clear evidence that B. clarridgeiae should be considered a zoonotic pathogen.

Citation

Logan, J., Hall, J., Chalker, V., O’Connell, B., & Birtles, R. (2019). Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in a patient with aortic root abscess and endocarditis. Access Microbiology, 1(10), https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000064

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 18, 2019
• Publication Date: Oct 10, 2019
• Deposit Date: Oct 21, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 21, 2019
• Journal: Access Microbiology
• Print ISSN: 2516-8290
• Publisher: Microbiology Society
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000064
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000064
• Related Public URLs: https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/acmi
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From Crossref via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: eissn 2516-8290 **History: issued 10-10-2019; published 10-10-2019; Funders : Public Health England;St James’s Hospital, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Dublin 8, Ireland;School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford