re: Cat Scratch

[Guest guest]

I am sorry to read of your recent diagnosis... and ask that you document your

symptoms to see the progress with treatment.

You may have noticed some new/unusual marks that may have appeared that you may

have throught were:  bruises; spider veins; stretch marks; papule; and so on...

which may in fact be the physical presentation of Barontella on the skin.

Here are a couple of links of skin presenations that might be of interest:

http://www.lymediseaseassociation.org/PhotoAlbum_RashBart.html

http://www.wellsphere.com/pictures/bartonella-rash

Bartonella can cause adhesions and growths in the abdomen... and unforuntately

most of the current research is only done on those with compromised immune

systems (usually HIV/Aids) or the homeless.  I presume because these tend to be

'neat / tidy' groups to study.

Cat Scratch Fever is only ONE of (I believe) 9 kinds of Bartonella that can pass

to humans... but is unfortunately the only one that North American labs will

test for in humans.  If you were a dog, you'd have better chances of getting

diagnosis and correct treatment.  If you know a local Vet... ask them about

Bartonella and any infections that commonlly accompany it.

The most recent species was announced in late 2008, found in a Vet. lab in North

Carolina called:  Bartonella melophagi and is " the first link between a species

of bacteria most commonly found in sheep and human illness " .  And where

" transmission among sheep is thought to occur via a wingless fly known as a

ked " .

This is important to note because people usually only think of the exotic and/or

overly simplistic modes of transmission (i.e. I have a dog; dog has ticks; I

removed ticks from dog; I squished tick with fingers; I had papercut; I became

infected).  This has actually happened to many who now have several of these

types of infections.

According to the following link (

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/01/06/nc.state.researchers.find.new.barton\

ella.species.infects.humans ) about the 'new' species... and what might be of

interest to those on the board re: their own symptoms is:

" The blood samples Breitschwerdt and Maggi tested came from previously healthy

women who were suffering from symptoms including muscle fatigue and weakness.

One of the patients had been diagnosed with pericarditis, an inflammation of the

membrane surrounding the heart. B. melophagi was present in blood samples from

both women; Bartonella henselae, a strain of the bacterium which has been

associated with human neurological illnesses and fatigue, was isolated from one

of the samples. "

I post this because I had to send my blood to Germany to find that had: 

Bartonella henselae (Cat Scratch Disease) and Bartonella Quintanae (Trench Fever

- remember the First World War soldiers had this???).  I was exposed to:  sheep;

cattle; horses and dogs while traveling through the UK/Ireland and ended up with

6-bacterial and 4-viral infections.

Lastly, I would suggest contacting a Lyme group in your area because most people

who test positive for Lyme Borrelia tend to have several 'co-infections' of

which Bartonella is one.  They will be able to help you re: treatment; symptoms;

and perhaps point you to a knowledgable MD in your area to ensure proper

treatment.  I for example, needed to switch medications after almost 5-months

and my treatment took almost 13-months before I tested negative.

Good luck and please keep us posted on your treatment and progress!