Bartonella Infection May Be Linked to Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions

A bacterium that is associated with cat scratch fever may play some role in human rheumatoid illnesses, including arthritis, according to researchers from North Carolina State University. The bacterium, named Bartonella, is transmitted predominantly by fleas, but also by ticks and other biting insects. Bartonella can also be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected cats or dogs. The bacterium can be carried in cat's blood for months or years.

For study purposes, researchers tested the blood of 296 study participants looking for the Bartonella infection. The patients had previously been diagnosed with conditions such as arthritis, Lyme disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. Of the group of study participants, 62% had Bartonella antibodies (indicative of prior exposure). There was bacterial DNA found in 41% of the blood samples which allowed researchers to pinpoint the species of Bartonella. The researchers concluded that one study alone is not enough to definitively state that a subset of rheumatoid conditions is related to infection, but it does suggest a link to Bartonella in some cases and the need for further investigation.

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