Real-time PCR and pyrosequencing for differentiation of medically relevant Bartonella species.

Multiple Bartonella species cause disease in humans. Although fast and accurate species differentiation could inform effective treatment interventions, species-level diagnosis of Bartonella infections is not typical. Here we describe a real-time PCR and pyrosequencing based algorithm for rapid differentiation of at least 11 medically relevant Bartonella spp.