Detection of Bartonella quintana by direct immunofluorescence examination of blood smears of a patient with acute trench fever

C Foucault; J M Rolain; D Raoult; P Brouqui

doi:10.1128/JCM.42.10.4904-4906.2004

Detection of Bartonella quintana by direct immunofluorescence examination of blood smears of a patient with acute trench fever

J Clin Microbiol. 2004 Oct;42(10):4904-6. doi: 10.1128/JCM.42.10.4904-4906.2004.

Authors

C Foucault¹, J M Rolain, D Raoult, P Brouqui

Affiliation

¹ Unité des Rickettsies, CNRS UMR 6020, IFR48, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France. [email protected]

Abstract

We report a case of Bartonella quintana acute symptomatic infection in a homeless man, presenting as a typical trench fever. B. quintana has been retrieved in erythrocytes in large clusters and in erythroblasts. Direct immunofluorescence of blood smears allows a rapid diagnosis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Bartonella quintana / isolation & purification*
Blood Specimen Collection / methods*
Erythroblasts / microbiology
Erythrocytes / microbiology
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
HIV Infections / complications*
Humans
Ill-Housed Persons*
Male
Middle Aged
Trench Fever / diagnosis*
Trench Fever / microbiology