Title
Carrion’s disease: The sound of silence
Date Issued
01 January 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
corrigendum
Author(s)
Universitat de Barcelona
Universitat de Barcelona
Publisher(s)
American Society for Microbiology
Abstract
Carrion’s disease (CD) is a neglected biphasic vector-borne illness related to Bartonella bacilliformis. It is found in the Andean valleys and is transmitted mainly by members of the Lutzomyia genus but also by blood transfusions and from mother to child. The acute phase, Oroya fever, presents severe anemia and fever. The lethality is high in the absence of adequate treatment, despite the organism being susceptible to most antibiotics. Partial immunity is developed after infection by B. bacilliformis, resulting in high numbers of asymptomatic carriers. Following infection there is the chronic phase, Peruvian warts, involving abnormal proliferation of the endothelial cells. Despite potentially being eradicable, CD has been expanded due to human migration and geographical expansion of the vector. Moreover, in vitro studies have demonstrated the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance. These findings, together with the description of new Bartonella species producing CD-like infections, the presence of undescribed potential vectors in new areas, the lack of adequate diagnostic tools and knowledge of the immunology and bacterial pathogenesis of CD, and poor international visibility, have led to the risk of increasing the potential expansion of resistant strains which will challenge current treatment schemes as well as the possible appearance of CD in areas where it is not endemic.
Volume
31
Issue
1
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Enfermedades infecciosas
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85036555563
PubMed ID
Source
Clinical Microbiology Reviews
ISSN of the container
08938512
Sponsor(s)
J.R. was supported by a fellowship from program I3SNS of the ISCIII (grant number CES11/012). C.G. was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship of the ISCIII (FI12/00561). ISGlobal is a member of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya. We are grateful to Donna Pringle for language correction. Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8 were prepared/modified with the artistic support of Patrick Lane, ScEYEnce Studios. Figures 4 and 5 were adapted to journal format by Nuno Santos. J.R. was supported by a fellowship from program I3SNS of the ISCIII (grant number CES11/012). C.G. was supported by a Ph.D. fellowship of the ISCIII (FI12/00561). ISGlobal is a member of the CERCA Programme, Generalitat de Catalunya.
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