Bartonella sp. Bacteremia in Patients with Neurological and Neurocognitive Dysfunction

Abstract

We detected infection with a Bartonella species ( B. henselae or B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii ) in blood samples from six immunocompetent patients who presented with a chronic neurological or neurocognitive syndrome including seizures, ataxia, memory loss, and/or tremors. Each of these patients had substantial animal contact or recent arthropod exposure as a potential risk factor for Bartonella infection. Additional studies should be performed to clarify the potential role of Bartonella spp. as a cause of chronic neurological and neurocognitive dysfunction.