Immense Challenges in Visualizing Bartonella Under a Microscope

1. The blood level of Bartonella is often too low to see anything.
2. To see anything, you need 2-6 weeks to grow it, “culture it.”
3. If using basic red blood agar, it must be freshly made.
4. These bacteria are intracellular, which makes visualization harder.
5. What type of culture should you use to grow Bartonella quintana? Routine, vivid red blood agar?

   No. Chocolate agar. However, the best growth medium is the insect growth medium designed by Dr. Edward Breischwardt. It makes some sense since Bartonella lives in at least 12 insect carriers.

References

Lesson 1: Diagnosis of Bartonella Species Infections | VectorWise CME. Accessed August 8, 2026.