As a model of persistent infection, various aspects of Bartonella birtlesii infection in laboratory mice, including some immunodeficient mice, are presented, particularly focusing on conditions mimicking natural infection. Bacteraemia was explored using different mice strains routes and inoculum doses (3.4-5*107 CFU/mouse). Mice became bacteraemic for 5 (C57Bl6/6) to 10 weeks (Balb/c, Swiss) with peaks ranging from 2*103 to 105 CFU/mL of blood. The ID route induced the most precocious bacteraemia (day 3) while the higher and longer bacteraemia in immunocompetent mice was obtained with SC when infecting Balb/c with approximately 103 CFU/mouse. As opposed to ID, SC and IV routes, bacteraemia was obtained with the oral and ocular routes only for high doses (107) and in 33-66% mice. It was significantly higher and longer in CD4-/- mice compared to CD8-/- and double KO mice at most time points. CD8-/- mice and the control group had near to superimposed kinetics. These results confirm the relevance of the present model.