Bartonella bacilliformis

Background

Epidemiology

• Range is essentially restricted to the Andean mountains in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia
• Transmitted by Lutzomyia sand flies
• Humans are primary reservoir

Clinical Presentation

• Traditionally presents as a biphasic illness with an acute phase (Oroya fever) and a late phase (verruga peruana)
• The acute phase is characterized by fever, malaise, and a hemolytic anemia
• The late phase is characterized by nodular skin lesions

Diagnosis

• During acute phase, may see intraerythrocytic bacteria on blood film