Bartonella rochalimae

Bartonella rochalimae is a recently discovered strain of gram-negative bacteria. It is a member of the Bartonella genus. The bacteria was found by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also helped with the discovery.

The bacterium was first found in a 43-year-old American woman. She was in Peru when she became very sick. She had a high fever, anemia and insomnia.  The illness was thought to be Bartonella bacilliformis, a similar bacteria that causes Oroya fever. The scientists later discovered that a new species of bacteria had caused the illness. They gave the patient some antibiotics. Her condition later improved. 

The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine on June 7, 2007.

Category:Gram-negative bacteria