Bartonella bacilliformis (Oroya fever, Carrion's disease)

Epidemiology

• intermediate host: sandfly in Peru, Ecuador, Columbia
• transmitted by bite of infected fly

Clinical manifestations

• acute phase: hemolysis & fever
• chronic phase:
  • benign eruptive lesions, pruritus, bleeding
  • malaise, arthritis

Laboratory

• Bartonella bacilliformis serology
• Bartonella identified by culture
  • Bartonella can be isolated from blood cultures &/or chronic lesions

Complications

• untreated mortality 40-85%
• coinfection with enterobacteria (Salmonella spp) & parasites (Toxoplasma gondii, Pneumocystis jirovecci)

Management

• quinolones (due to risk of enterobacteria infection)

More general terms

• Bartonella (formerly Rochalimaea)