Microbe Snapshots: Bartonella henselae

Abstract

Bartonella henselae is a fastidious, gram-negative, aerobic, intracellular bacillus that is notoriously difficult to culture, making molecular detection and serologic testing the primary diagnostic methods. B. henselae is the principal causative agent of cat scratch disease (CSD), which typically presents as a self-limited, localized lymphadenopathy. The organism primarily targets regional lymph nodes but is also capable of infecting various cell types, including endothelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. To date, >40 Bartonella species and subspecies have been identified, with B. henselae representing the most prevalent zoonotic species. This microbe snapshot will review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical spectrum, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies for B. henselae infection.