Bartonella henselae

Bartonella henselae
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Pseudomonadota
Class:	Alphaproteobacteria
Order:	Hyphomicrobiales
Family:	Bartonellaceae
Genus:	Bartonella
Species:	B. henselae
Binomial name
Bartonella henselae (Regnery et al. 1992) Brenner et al. 1993
Synonyms
Rochalimæa henselae Regnery et al. 1992

Bartonella henselae, formerly Rochalimæa henselae, is a bacterium that is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease^[1] (bartonellosis).

Bartonella henselae is a member of the genus Bartonella, one of the most common types of bacteria in the world.^[specify] It is a facultative intracellular microbe that targets red blood cells. In the United States, about 20,000 cases are diagnosed each year,^[2] most under 15 years old. Most often, it is transmitted by scratches or bites from kittens.^[3]