Trench fever or quintana fever (5-day fever) is a recurrent fever among non-immunocompromised individuals.Lymphadenopathy and ocular complications are occasionally reported. quintana infection include the classical recurrent fever ‘trench fever’, chronic bacteraemia, endocarditis and, among immunocompromised individuals, bacillary angiomatosis. The incubation period is usually between 15 and 25 days but has been reported as shorter, up to six days, under experimental conditions.quintana has a circular chromosome (≈1.6 Mb) recognised as a genomic derivative of Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease. quintana is slow-growing Gram-negative bacterium with short rods morphology (0.3 to 0.5 μm wide and 1.0 to 1.7 μm long). Primary prevention of trench fever relies on measures for avoiding infestation with body lice. Since the 1990s, it has been recognised as a reemerging pathogen among impoverished and homeless populations - so-called ‘urban trench fever’ - living in unsanitary conditions and crowded areas predisposing them to infestation with ectoparasites that may transmit the infection. The infection is associated with a wide variety of clinical conditions, including chronic bacteraemia, endocarditis, lymphadenopathy and bacillary angiomatosis. Introductionīartonella quintana infection (historically called ‘trench fever’) is a vector-borne disease primarily transmitted by the human body louse Pediculus humanus humanus. Disclaimer: The information contained in this factsheet is intended for the purpose of general information and should not substitute individual expert advice and judgement of healthcare professionals.