ABSTRACT
Serum samples were collected from healthy blood donors in 5 regions in Sweden in 1999, i.e. from the local Blood Centres (collecting facilities) in Boden, Jönköping, Lund, Skövde, and Uppsala. In total, 498 serum samples (63% males, 37% females) were received and tested by immunofluorescence assay for antibodies against B. elizabethae, B. grahamii, B. henselae (Houston-1), B. henselae (Marseille), B. quintana, and B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii. An overall Bartonella spp. seroprevalence of 16.1% was found, with a predominance of immunoreactivity to B. elizabethae, at 14.1%; B. grahamii, 2.6%; B. henselae (Houston-1), 1.2%; B. henselae (Marseille), 1.8%; B. quintana, 0.2%; and B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii, 0.0%. Univariate and multivariate analyses of epidemiological and demographical information revealed an increased rate of B. elizabethae seropositivity in blood donors working outdoors, being out in the wild a minimum of once a week, hunting moose, having cat contact, and travelling to Eastern Europe. Living in the southern region of Sweden (Lund area) was associated with decreased seropositivity to B. elizabethae.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Bartonella Infections/epidemiology , Bartonella/immunology , Blood Donors , Animals , Bartonella/classification , Bartonella Infections/immunology , Bartonella henselae/immunology , Cats , Cattle , Cricetinae , Dogs , Female , Humans , Male , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sweden/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A high frequency of Bartonella elizabethae seropositivity (39%) was recorded among intravenous heroin addicts in Stockholm, Sweden, who died from a lethal injection. Some of the B. elizabethae-seropositive individuals also had antibodies to B. henselae Houston-1, B. grahamii, and B. quintana, but none had antibodies to B. henselae Marseille or B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii. Hepatitis was a frequent finding but no case had peliosis hepatitis. There was no case of endocarditis, but in three persons active subacute-to-chronic myocarditis was found; two of these cases were Bartonella-positive and HIV-negative.
Subject(s)
Bartonella/isolation & purification , Heroin Dependence/microbiology , Adult , Antigens, Bacterial/blood , Autopsy , Bartonella/immunology , Bartonella Infections/diagnosis , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Forensic Medicine , Heroin Dependence/mortality , Humans , Male , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/microbiology , SwedenABSTRACT
Infection with Bartonella, an emerging bacterial pathogen which often affects immunodeficient patients, has been reported in Sweden over the past few years, with a high seroprevalence of B. elizabethae. A high prevalence of antibodies against B. elizabethae has also been found in urban intravenous drug users in the USA. Using immunofluorescence, we retrospectively examined serum samples taken at autopsy from 59 Swedish intravenous drug addicts from the Stockholm area for evidence of antibodies against 6 pathogenic strains of Bartonella. The 59 addicts died following heroin injection during the years 1987-1992 and include 24 individuals (41%) who were additionally HIV-positive. An overall seropositivity rate for Bartonella spp. of 39% (23/59) was found with the following antigenic reactivities: B. elizabethae, 39% (23/59); B. grahamii, 3% (2/59); B. henselae (Houston-1), 14% (8/59); and B. quintana, 3% (2/59). There were no positive reactions for B. henselae (Marseille) or B. vinsonii subsp. vinsonii. The Bartonella-seropositive cases included 11/23 (48%) individuals who were HIV-positive. Subacute to chronic myocarditis was seen in 2/11 microscopically investigated Bartonella-seropositive cases that were HIV-negative and in 1/14 seronegative cases. No cases of endocarditis or other common manifestations of Bartonella infection were found. An overall Bartonella seropositivity of 21% (9/44) was observed in control forensic autopsy samples.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Bartonella Infections/microbiology , Bartonella/immunology , Heroin , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/microbiology , Adult , Bartonella Infections/blood , Bartonella Infections/immunology , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Myocarditis/epidemiology , Myocarditis/microbiology , Retrospective Studies , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/blood , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/etiology , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/immunology , Sweden/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Sera from 292 cats were analyzed by means of indirect immunofluorescence for antibodies to Bartonella henselae, B. quintana and B. elizabethae. The sera were sent to the Swedish National Institute of Veterinary Medicine for health monitoring and were tested retrospectively for antibodies to Bartonella. The most prevalent antibodies (25%) reacted with the B. elizabethae antigen. Cats with such antibodies were older than those without antibodies. The prevalence of antibodies to B. elizabethae was higher in the south of Sweden than in the north, with the highest prevalence (46%) being found in cats living in the Stockholm region. There was no difference in sex distribution. A low prevalence (1%) of antibodies to B. henselae was found and no sera reacted with B. quintana. The high prevalence of antibodies to B. elizabethae is consistent with previous findings in Swedish patients. The small number of cats with B. henselae antibodies observed in this study could be due to the cold climate and the low occurrence of cat fleas in Sweden.
