bartonellosis

A disease caused by infection with a species of bacteria belonging to the genus Bartonella,

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bar·ton·el·lo·sis -.el-'ō-səs n, pl -lo·ses -.sēz a disease or infection caused by bacteria of the genus Bartonella specif a disease of mammals including humans that occurs in So. America, is characterized by severe anemia and high fever followed by an eruption like warts on the skin, and is caused by a bacterium of the genus Bartonella (B. bacilliformis) that invades the red blood cells and is transmitted by sand flies (genus Phlebotomus) called also Carrión's disease see OROYA FEVER, VERRUGA PERUANA

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n.

an infectious disease, confined to high river valleys in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, caused by the rickettsia Bartonella. The parasite, present in red blood cells and cells of the lymphatic system, is transmitted to humans by sandflies. There are two clinical types of the disease: Oroya fever (Carrion's disease), whose symptoms include fever, anaemia, and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes; and verruga peruana, characterized by wart-like eruptions on the skin that can bleed easily and ulcerate. Oroya fever accounts for nearly all fatalities. Bartonellosis can be treated successfully with penicillin and other antibiotics and blood transfusions may be given to relieve the anaemia.

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bar·to·nel·lo·sis (bahr-tə-nel-oґsis) 1. infection with any organism of the genus Bartonella. 2. infection by Bartonella bacilliformis, transmitted by sandflies in mountain valleys of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Besides humans, it also affects dogs and rodents, especially after splenectomy. There are two stages: the first or acute stage is a highly fatal fever called Oroya fever; the second or chronic stage is a benign skin eruption called verruga peruana. Called also Carriуn disease.