Bartonella - Feline

Question 1

What type of bacteria is Bartonella?

Answer 1

gram (-)
intracellular

Question 2

Which domestic animal is a primary reservoir? Which sp of Bartonella?

Answer 2

cat! also a vector for human transmission
B. henelae

Question 3

How is Bartonella transmitted?

Answer 3

transmitted via fleas
- flea feces gets into the body via bite or scratch

Ticks may play a role too

Can also get it from inoculation of infected blood (IV, IM)

Cannot go from cat to cat unless there is flea infestation

Question 4

What are some clinical signs of Bartonella infection in cats?

Answer 4

• uveitis (natural infection)
• generalized/ localized peripheral lymphadenopathy (experimental infection)

Question 5

How is Bartonella in cats diagnosed?

Answer 5

positive culture (blood or infected organ) = definitive

Serology = limited value for active infection, but a negative value = useful, negative predictive value = 87-97%

PCR = faster than culture, but positivity doesn’t equate to active infection

Combo of culture + PCR = most sensitive

• screen blood donor
• early transient anemia, persistent eosinophilia
• confocal microscopy and special staining

Question 6

How is Bartonella treated?

Answer 6

no antibiotic regiment = 100% effective
- Doxycycline and pradofloxacin = good initial first line

• enrofloxacin can cause retinal detachment
• fluoroquinolones single agent is not recommended in people

Question 7

How is Bartonella prevented?

Answer 7

• screen blood donors
• flea/ tick control

Question 8

Is Bartonella a public health concern?

Answer 8

• yes! zoonotic
• cat scratch fever: skin bumps/ rash, lymphadenopathy, fatigue, anorexia, fever, muscle/ joint pain
• B. henselae
• can be fatal