Bartonella spp. seroprevalence in healthy Swedish blood donors

Abstract

Serum samples were collected from healthy blood donors in 5 regions in Sweden in 1999, i.e. from the local Blood Centres (collecting facilities) in Boden, Jönköping, Lund, Skövde, and Uppsala. In total, 498 serum samples (63% males, 37% females) were received and tested by immunofluorescence assay for antibodies against B. elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. henselae (Houston-1), B. henselae (Marseille), B. quintana, and B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii. An overall Bartonella spp. seroprevalence of 16.1% was found, with a predominance of immunoreactivity to B. elizabethae, at 14.1%; B. grahamii, 2.6%; B. henselae (Houston-1), 1.2%; B. henselae (Marseille), 1.8%; B. quintana, 0.2%; and B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii, 0.0%. Univariate and multivariate analyses of epidemiological and demographical information revealed an increased rate of B. elizabethae seropositivity in blood donors working outdoors, being out in the wild a minimum of once a week, hunting moose, having cat contact, and travelling to Eastern Europe. Living in the southern region of Sweden (Lund area) was associated with decreased seropositivity to B. elizabethae.

Bartonella henselaeAntibodies after Cat Bite1

“…The prevalence of immunoglobulin G against B. henselae in particular was shown to be much higher than that previously reported in Sweden (9 …”

“…ISF was fi rst reported in Israel (1) and was also recently described in Portugal and Italy (6)(7)(8). The clinical manifestations of ISF are similar to those of other spotted fever group infections, but an inoculation eschar is rarely observed and a history of tick exposure is not always present (4)(5)(6)9). The incubation period is ≈7-8 days after the tick bite (4).…”

The seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in healthy adults in Korea

“…The disease results in more than 25,000 patients per year [7]. Moreover, the seropositivity rates against B. henselae among healthy adults are 16.0% in Sweden, 8.7% in Spain, and 19.6% in China [8-10]. …”

Human bartonellosis: seroepidemiological and clinical features with an emphasis on data from Brazil - A review

“…From the data presented in Table II and those discussed above, it is clear that Bartonella largely circulates among human populations (Jackson et al 1996, Comer et al 1996, Rotily et al 1996, Noah et al 1997, Blanco et al 1998 Jacobs & Schutze 1998, Sander et al 1998, Harrison & Doshi 1999, Maruyama et al 2000, Guibal et al 2001, Kumasaka et al 2001, Antoniou et al 2002, Kikuchi et al 2002, Ramos et al 2002, Smith et al 2002, Tea et al 2003, Koehler et al 2003, Al-Majali & Al-Qudah 2004, Massei et al 2004, Garcia-Garcia et al 2005, McGill et al 2005, Ferres et al 2006, Seki et al 2006, Ehrenborg et al 2007, Zarkovic et al 2007. B. bacilliformis serology performed in endemic areas is notably high (Amano et al 1997, Kosek et al 2000, Chamberlin et al 2002.…”