[Current state of the knowledge of Bartonella infections].

Bartonella spp. are gram-negative bacteria localized in erythrocytes of vertebrate hosts. Genus Bartonella contains numerous recently described species, many of them are new and emerging arthropod-borne human pathogens. In addition to humans, Bartonella spp. have also been isolated from a variety of domesticated (cats, dogs) and wild animals (carnivores, ruminants, rodents), which play a key role as reservoir hosts for these pathogens. The infectious process and the pathogenesis of bartonellosis are still poorly understood. The present paper reviews the factors influencing Bartonella infections including a range of reservoir hosts and vectors, mechanism of phatogenesis, diagnostic methods for indentification Bartonella infections in humans and animals as well as the coinfection with Bartonella and other arthropod-borne pathogens.