What is Bacillary Angiomatosis ?
Bacillary Angiomatosis (BA) is caused by Bartonella Henselae or Bartonella Quintana and causes proliferation of blood vessels in the skin and internal organs. The bacterial can affect any of human organ systems, particularly skin and subcutaneous tissue. BA can also cause disseminated visceral disease (peliosis), chiefly in the liver (peliosis hepatis), spleen, and lymph nodes to a person. Bartonella Henselae is spread through bite or scratch of a cat and Bartonella Quintana is transmitted by bedbugs. Those suffering with AIDS have more chances to get infected with BA. Further, various cases around the word have also been registered in organ transplant recipients, in patients with leukemia and those going through systemic steroid therapy.
Bacillary Angiomatosis is a bacterial infection on the skin caused due to the fastidious, gram-negative bacilli Bartonella henselae and B. quintana, usually spread through the cat scratch or bite and lice. It is most commonly seen in HIV patients who are suffering from reduced immune system. Bacillary Angiomatosis was discovered by Stoler in 1983. Due to this disease patients feel fever, chills, sweat, vomiting sensation, weight loss etc. Bacillary Angiomatosis leads to the diseases like obstruction of the lungs, hepatitis or osteomyelitis. It is a life-threatening, but it can be curable with proper medical seek. Bacillary Angiomatosis is also known as cat scratch disease, cat scratch fever, regional lymphadenitis, and benign lymphoreticulosis.
Bacillary angiomatosis is a relatively rare but potentially fatal illness, when not treated, can create lesions or nodules on the skin and internal tumors or growths. It tends to affect only a small percentage of the population. When first identified in the early 1980s, the origin of the condition was unclear, but it did seem to be almost exclusively found in people with severely compromised immune systems, particularly from either HIV or the AIDs virus. While in very rare instances people without HIV or AIDs may get bacillary angiomatosis, most often this bacterial-based disease is still most common in HIV/AIDs sufferers. After some research, scientists discovered that the condition represented infection with bacteria. The most common bacteria involved may be present on animal fleas or lice that infest human bodies. These strains are Bartonella henselae or B. quintana . Bites from either of the common carriers could potentially transmit bacteria into the bloodstream, ultimately creati
Bacillary Angiomatosis (BA) is a rare condition which usually occurs in people with HIV/AIDS. Patients with BA may have skin lesions which sometimes resemble Kaposi’s Sarcoma. BA can also affect internal organs such as the liver or spleen. What is Bartonella? Both CSD and BA appear to be caused by the same bacteria, Bartonella henselae. How is my cat affected by this organism? Cats that carry the agent are generally not ill and show no signs of infection. Recent research shows that cats acquire the Bartonella organism from fleas. How is this organism transmitted to people? Cats may transmit Bartonella to people by scratches or possibly bites. Fleas may also be involved with transmission to people. Cats less than one year of age are more likely to be associated with transmission of CSD or BA than are adult cats. Should I have my cat tested? Although tests are available to determine if your cat has been exposed to Bartonella, testing is usually not necessary and interpretation of test re
