A recent post on the Purina Pro Club website reviews the history of bartonellosis and Boxers in this month’s breed update. This is particularly relevant as the IPRL is currently studying the role of Bartonella exposure in the severity of ARVC (AKA, Boxer Cardiomyopathy), with a grant through the AKC’s Canine Health Foundation tick-borne disease initiative.
You can read the full article here: https://www.purinaproclub.com/resources/dog-articles/breed-updates/boxer-update-spring-2019
This new case report describes a teenage boy diagnosed with an acute-onset schizophrenia-like psychotic illness (aka PANS, Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), who was found to have an infection with Bartonella henselae (by PCR and serology). He had failed numerous treatments regimes over almost 2 years, and finally was treated for bartonellosis with appropriate targeted antibiotics – and he got better!
The case has gotten some press, from the NCSU CVM homepage to gizmodo and lots of places in between (even a podcast!).
The case report was published in the Journal of Central Nervous System Disease, and can be found open access linked here.
The CVM at NCSU has started a new group of faculty, staff, and students focused on education in the veterinary medical profession: the Academy of Educators. They have a website with mission statement and membership details, as well as a calendar of events, news, and research from members.
The website and more info on the AoE can be found here: https://academyofeducators.wordpress.ncsu.edu/