Boodman C, Fongwen N, Pecoraro AJ, Mihret A, Abayneh H, Fournier PE, Gupta N, van Griensven J. Hidden Burden of
Bartonella quintana on the African Continent: Should the Bacterial Infection Be Considered a Neglected Tropical Disease?
Open Forum Infect Dis 2024;
11:ofad672. [PMID:
38370291 PMCID:
PMC10873695 DOI:
10.1093/ofid/ofad672]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Bartonella quintana is a louse-borne gram-negative bacillus that remains a poorly characterized cause of bacteremia, fever, and infective endocarditis. Due to the link with pediculosis, B quintana transmission is tied to poverty, conflict, overcrowding, and inadequate water access to maintain personal hygiene. Although these risk factors may be present globally, we argue that a substantial burden of undocumented B quintana infection occurs in Africa due to the high prevalence of these risk factors. Here, we describe the neglected burden of B quintana infection, endocarditis, and vector positivity in Africa and evaluate whether B quintana meets criteria to be considered a neglected tropical disease according to the World Health Organization.
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