Bartonella melophagi now causing human illness -- NC

[Guest guest]

_http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to_human_i

llness/UPI-33911231348068/_

(http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to_human_ill\

ness/UPI-33911231348068/)

Bacteria in sheep linked to human illness

Published: Jan. 7 _Feedback_ (http://www.upi.com/Feedback/33911231348068/)

RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- _University_

(http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to_human_ill\

ness/UPI-33911231348068/#)

and government researchers have linked a bacteria species commonly found in

sheep to human illness, a report in a U.S. government publication says.

The species, tentatively called Bartonella melophagi, has been found in

women suffering from muscle fatigue and weakness, and even from a case of

pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart,

researchers

from North Carolina State University and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention report in the January issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases,

published by the CDC.

In nature, sheep are the most likely hosts for B. melophagi. Transmission

among sheep is thought to be by way of the wingless parasite louse flies known

as a keds.

But how the bacteria transmits to humans is unknown, the report says.

The research marks the first time this particular strain of Bartonella has

been cultured from human blood and associated with human illness.

" A small number of Bartonella in the bloodstream can cause infection, and

this fact, coupled with the large variety of transmission routes by which

people can become infected, make the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the

illnesses caused by this bacteria a real challenge, " Research Assistant

Professor Maggi of North Carolina State's Department of Clinical

Sciences

says.

" I think it's critical that we discover more about how this bacteria infects

people, and how Bartonella infection relates to the subsequent development

of _progressive_ (http://ww

w.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to_human_illness/UPI-3\

3911231348068/#) illnesses in humans, " he says.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. .

Coughlan

President

MA Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Assoc.

Mashpee, MA

[Guest guest]

I came across this article about Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt and the

technique he patented via special equipment in his lab at N.C. State

to detect Bartonella.

http://www.bada-uk.org/wordpress/?tag=bartonella

I'm curious about whether or not anyone has heard of his technique

etc.

Best regards,

Jackie Pecora

>

>

_http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to

_human_i

> llness/UPI-33911231348068/_

>

(http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to

_human_illness/UPI-33911231348068/)

>

>

>

> Bacteria in sheep linked to human illness

>

>

>

> Published: Jan. 7 _Feedback_

(http://www.upi.com/Feedback/33911231348068/)

>

>

> RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- _University_

>

(http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to

_human_illness/UPI-33911231348068/#)

> and government researchers have linked a bacteria species commonly

found in

> sheep to human illness, a report in a U.S. government publication

says.

> The species, tentatively called Bartonella melophagi, has been

found in

> women suffering from muscle fatigue and weakness, and even from a

case of

> pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane surrounding the

heart, researchers

> from North Carolina State University and the U.S. Centers for

Disease Control

> and Prevention report in the January issue of Emerging Infectious

Diseases,

> published by the CDC.

> In nature, sheep are the most likely hosts for B. melophagi.

Transmission

> among sheep is thought to be by way of the wingless parasite louse

flies known

> as a keds.

> But how the bacteria transmits to humans is unknown, the report

says.

> The research marks the first time this particular strain of

Bartonella has

> been cultured from human blood and associated with human illness.

> " A small number of Bartonella in the bloodstream can cause

infection, and

> this fact, coupled with the large variety of transmission routes

by which

> people can become infected, make the diagnosis, treatment and

prevention of the

> illnesses caused by this bacteria a real challenge, " Research

Assistant

> Professor Maggi of North Carolina State's Department of

Clinical Sciences

> says.

> " I think it's critical that we discover more about how this

bacteria infects

> people, and how Bartonella infection relates to the subsequent

development

> of _progressive_ (http://ww

>

w.upi.com/Health_News/2009/01/07/Bacteria_in_sheep_linked_to_human_ill

ness/UPI-33911231348068/#) illnesses in humans, " he says.

>

>

> © 2009 United Press International, Inc. .

>

>

> Coughlan

> President

> MA Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Awareness Assoc.

> Mashpee, MA

>

>

>

>