Detection of Bartonella species in the blood of veterinarians and veterinary technicians: a newly recognized occupational hazard?

• Published in: Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) Vol. 14; no. 8; p. 563
• Main Authors: Lantos, Paul M, Maggi, Ricardo G, Ferguson, Brandy, Varkey, Jay, Park, Lawrence P, Breitschwerdt, Edward B, Woods, Christopher W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Animal Technicians; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Bacteremia; Bartonella - genetics; Bartonella - isolation & purification; Bartonella henselae - genetics; Bartonella henselae - isolation & purification; Bartonella Infections - blood; Bartonella Infections - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - blood; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - microbiology; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Veterinarians; Zoonoses; Bartonella; Diagnostic test; Veterinarian; Zoonosis; Bacteremia

Bartonella species are important emerging pathogens in human and veterinary medicine. In the context of their daily activities, veterinary professionals have frequent animal contact and arthropod exposures. Detection of Bartonella spp. using traditional culture methods has been limited by poor sensi...