BARTONELLA QUINTANA Meaning and
Definition
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Bartonella quintana is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Bartonella genus. It is an aerobic bacterium that typically infects humans, causing a bacterial infection known as trench fever. This bacterium can also cause other diseases including endocarditis and bacillary angiomatosis.
Bartonella quintana is primarily transmitted through human body lice (Pediculus humanus corporis), which act as a vector for the bacteria. Infected lice typically dwell in unhygienic and overcrowded environments, such as homeless shelters and refugee camps. The bacterium can be transmitted to humans when lice feces or infected louse excreta come into contact with broken skin or mucous membranes.
The symptoms of Bartonella quintana infection may vary depending on the severity of the disease. Trench fever, the most common manifestation, is characterized by prolonged fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. In severe cases, this infection can lead to endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves. Bacillary angiomatosis, another possible consequence, presents as skin lesions with blood vessel growth.
Diagnosis of Bartonella quintana infection often involves serology testing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and isolation of the bacteria from blood samples. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics such as doxycycline, azithromycin, or ciprofloxacin, which can effectively eliminate the infection.
Given the potential complications associated with Bartonella quintana infection, proper sanitation measures and control of lice infestations in vulnerable populations are crucial preventive strategies.
Common Misspellings for BARTONELLA QUINTANA
- vartonella quintana
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Etymology of BARTONELLA QUINTANA
The word "Bartonella" is derived from the name of the American physician and researcher Albert Barton, who was one of the discoverers of this genus of bacteria. He first described the bacteria in 1909.
The term "quintana" is derived from Latin, meaning "the fifth". Bartonella quintana was initially known as "Rochalimaea quintana" and was named after Dr. Quintana, a Spanish researcher who identified the bacteria during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Later, through genetic analysis, it was determined that Rochalimaea quintana and Rochalimaea henselae (another species) were both part of the Bartonella genus, and the name was officially changed to Bartonella quintana.
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