The 52^nd Scientific Meeting of the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Research Center at the Pasteur Institute of Iran, held in collaboration with Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), took place on August 9, 2026, focusing on Bartonella infections. The session opened with a confirmed case of bacillary angiomatosis due to Bartonella henselae in an AIDS patient, highlighting significant diagnostic and therapeutic complexities. A presentation on the microbiology, taxonomy, zoonotic reservoirs, vectors, and transmission cycles of Bartonella emphasized environmental and social risk factors. Cat exposure, vector contact, and poor hygiene were identified as key risks, with stress placed on targeted prevention in high-risk groups.

During the meeting, clinical syndromes associated with B. henselae and B. quintana were reviewed. The broad, nonspecific symptoms were underscored, along with the importance of exposure history, immune status, and laboratory data in diagnosis. Treatment protocols were outlined, with emphasis on timely, severity-adjusted therapy, especially for systemic involvement. Moreover, Iranian research findings were presented, noting Bartonella as a significant cause of culture-negative endocarditis and an important pathogen in HIV patients. Evidence of infection in animal hosts—dogs, cats, rodents—and ectoparasites suggests active transmission cycles and zoonotic potential. Expanded epidemiological studies, improved diagnostics, and increased awareness among at-risk populations were called for.

Participants concluded by urging enhanced medical education, laboratory capacity, surveillance systems, and a One Health approach to better understand and control Bartonella infections in Iran. These meetings aim to strengthen collaboration between diagnostic labs and clinical teams to address endemic bacterial zoonoses.