An interesting article on Bartonella in many other regions is rarely discussed, fascinating in Bartonellosis in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, a systematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of public health
* WHO only monitors B quintana and henselae. And some countries never test for it.
In one study the seroprevalence in cats and dogs was 35.7% and 44.5%, respectively.
The seroprevalence of Bartonella spp. in African countries (38.8%)–almost similar to Asian countries (38.9%).
Furthermore, the seroprevalence of B. henselae, B. vinsonii, and B. clarridgeiae was 27.9%
The seroprevalence in cat owners (28.4%)
The domestic cat is the major reservoir for some Bartonella species, especially B. henselae and cat fleas are the primary vector of feline Bartonella
Tunisia and Saudi Arabia had the lowest Bartonella (6.4%) and highest (36.2%)98.6) prevalence among animals, respectively.
ANIMAL antibodies:
Continent African countries 38.8%
Asian countries 38.9%
Unfortunately, only a few studies reported the Bartonella species.
The most commonly reported species-based molecular and serological tests in animals were B. merieuxii (17.6%) and B. henselae (27.9%).
However, the main pathogenic species of Bartonella for humans were:
B. henselae
B. quintana
B. bacilliformis
B. melophagi
B. rattimassiliensis
B. rochalimae
B. alsatica
B. ancashensis
B. clarridgeiae
B. grahamii
B. koehlerae
B. kosoyi
B. mayotimonensis
B. schoenbuchensis
B. tamiae
B. tribocorum
B. doshia
B. elizabethae
B. vinsonii
B. washoensis
It seems they can all cause disease. The severity often varies with the health of your immune system.
A few of these species are debated and they do not infect humans equally. Though thinking only henselae and quintana matter is outdated infection medical science.
Bartonella is an emerging infectious disease. “Our systematic review found only 45 studies on Bartonellosis across 12 WHO EMR countries during 1990–2022.
No studies existed from 10 countries.
Ashtiani, Zahra & Bagheri Amiri, Fahimeh & Ahmadinezhad, Mozhgan & Mostafavi, Ehsan & Saber, Esmaeili. (2025). Bartonellosis in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, a systematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of public health. 35. i48-i54. 10.1093/eurpub/ckae123.