Bartonella Associated Cutaneous Lesions (BACL) in People with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
1
Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
2
Dermatology Clinic, Truman Medical Center, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pathogens 2020, 9(12), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9121023
Received: 29 October 2020
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Revised: 24 November 2020
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Accepted: 30 November 2020
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Published: 4 December 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Evolving Biomedical Importance of Bartonella Species Infections)
Bartonella species are globally important emerging pathogens that were not known to infect animals or humans in North America prior to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Ongoing improvements in diagnostic testing modalities have allowed for the discovery of Bartonella species (spp.) DNA in blood; cerebrospinal fluid; and the skin of patients with cutaneous lesions, fatigue, myalgia, and neurological symptoms. We describe Bartonella spp. test results for participants reporting neuropsychiatric symptoms, the majority of whom reported the concurrent development of cutaneous lesions. Study participants completed a medical history, a risk factor questionnaire, and provided cutaneous lesion photographs. Bartonella spp. serology and Bartonella alpha proteobacteria enrichment blood culture/PCR were assessed. Within a 14-month period, 33 participants enrolled; 29/33 had serological and/or PCR evidence supporting Bartonella spp. infection, of whom 24 reported concurrent cutaneous lesions since neuropsychiatric symptom onset. We conclude that cutaneous lesions were common among people reporting neuropsychiatric symptoms and Bartonella spp. infection or exposure. Additional studies, using sensitive microbiological and imaging techniques, are needed to determine if, or to what extent, Bartonella spp. might contribute to cutaneous lesions and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients.
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Keywords:
infection; bacteria; psychoses; transmission; stretch marks; bartonella; neuropsychiatric; cutaneous lesions; BACL
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MDPI and ACS Style
Breitschwerdt, E.B.; Bradley, J.M.; Maggi, R.G.; Lashnits, E.; Reicherter, P. Bartonella Associated Cutaneous Lesions (BACL) in People with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms. Pathogens 2020, 9, 1023. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9121023
AMA Style
Breitschwerdt EB, Bradley JM, Maggi RG, Lashnits E, Reicherter P. Bartonella Associated Cutaneous Lesions (BACL) in People with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms. Pathogens. 2020; 9(12):1023. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9121023
Chicago/Turabian StyleBreitschwerdt, Edward B., Julie M. Bradley, Ricardo G. Maggi, Erin Lashnits, and Paul Reicherter. 2020. "Bartonella Associated Cutaneous Lesions (BACL) in People with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms" Pathogens 9, no. 12: 1023. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9121023
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