Bartonella rochalimae facts for kids

Bartonella rochalimae is a type of tiny living thing called bacteria. It was found not too long ago. This specific kind of bacteria is part of a group known as Bartonella. Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked together to discover it.

What is Bartonella rochalimae?

Bartonella rochalimae is a kind of gram-negative bacteria. This means it has a special cell wall that doesn't hold a certain purple dye in a test. It's a new member of the Bartonella family. Many bacteria in this family can cause sickness in people and animals.

How Was This Bacteria Found?

The first time Bartonella rochalimae was found was in a 43-year-old woman. She was visiting Peru when she became very sick. She had a high fever, which means her body temperature was much too high. She also had anemia, a condition where your blood doesn't have enough healthy red cells. Another symptom was insomnia, which means she couldn't sleep well.

At first, doctors thought she might have an illness called Oroya fever. This sickness is caused by a similar bacteria, Bartonella bacilliformis. But after more tests, scientists realized it was a brand new type of bacteria. They named it Bartonella rochalimae.

How Was the Illness Treated?

Once the new bacteria was identified, doctors gave the patient antibiotics. These are special medicines that fight off bacterial infections. After taking the antibiotics, the woman started to get better. Her health improved, and she recovered from the illness.

When Was This Discovery Shared?

The important findings about Bartonella rochalimae were shared with the world on June 7, 2007. The scientists published their discovery in a well-known medical journal. It was called the New England Journal of Medicine. This helped other doctors and researchers learn about the new bacteria.

See also

In Spanish: Bartonella rochalimae para niños