Cat Scratch Disease

Bartonella henselae has recently been identified as a major cause of cat scratch disease in humans.(1-3) Seropositivity of affected humans to Bartonella spp. Has been significantly associated with cat contact.(1) Both kittens and adult cats carry IFA antibodies, although it appears that kittens are most often bacteremic.(3-5) There is at least one report of canine Bartonella spp. Infection causing vegetative valvular endocarditis. This dog had a high titer to Bartonella henselae by IFA.(6)

1.     Dalton, M. J., et al. Arch. Intern. Med. 155(15):1670-1676, 1995.

2.     Bergmans, A. M., et al., J. Infect. Dis. 171(4):916-923, 1995.

3.     Demers, D. M., et al., J. Pediatr. 127(1):23-26, 1995.

4.     Ueno, H., et al., Microbiol. Immunol 39(5):339-341, 1995.

5.     Jameson, P., et al., J. Infect. Dis. 172(4):1145-1149, 1995.

6.     Breitschwerdt, E.B., et.al., J. Clin. Micro. 33(1):154-160, 1995.