Bartonella is a bacteria that can be transmitted by many different types of arthropods, including fleas and ticks. The most well-known of the Bartonella species is Bartonella henselae, which is the cause of cat scratch fever (also known as cat scratch disease) in people. However, there are numerous other species of Bartonella, many of which have also been found in dogs and cats. In fact, dogs and cats can be infected with more than one species of Bartonella organism simultaneously.
Bartonellosis In Cats and Dogs
Bartonellosis (or infection with the Bartonella organisms) usually causes only mild symptoms in cats and dogs and may easily go unnoticed by pet owners. Signs most frequently documented when symptoms are noted include:
- fever
- uveitis (eye disease)
- endocarditis (inflammation of the inner lining of the heart and the heart valves)
- myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
Bartonella organisms have been found in "tissues, effusions, and transudates" in many sick animals but the significance of these findings is unknown and further research is needed to determine whether Bartonella is the actual cause of disease in these animals or an incidental finding. Many veterinarians view bartonellosis as an emerging disease and there are currently a number of unanswered questions about this bacteria.
Cat Scratch Disease (Cat Scratch Fever) in People
The most common disease caused by Bartonella in people is cat scratch disease (cat scratch fever). Cat scratches are the most common method of innoculation and a pustule normally develops at the site of infection approximately seven to twelve days following the scratch. A low grade fever and enlargement of the regional lymph nodes usually occur as well. The fever and lymph node enlargement may last from several weeks to several months. Though systemic symptoms are less common, they can occur and can become serious.
Transmission of Bartonella
Fleas are the most well-known vector for all Bartonella species. Infections can occur when wounds are innoculated with flea excrement, which commonly happens when a cat infected with both fleas and Bartonella scratches a person. Bartonella is known to infect cats, dogs, rodents and other species of animals and can be passed between species.
Ticks and biting flies have also been implicated as a potential vector for dogs, cats, people and other mammals.
Testing for Bartonella in Dogs and Cats
Frequently, when a pet owner is diagnosed with cat scratch disease or when a family member becomes immunocomprimised, testing for Bartonella in family pets, particularly cats, may be desirable. However, testing can be difficult and may not always be accurate because of the relapsing nature of the Bartonella infection.
Blood cultures are the most reliable method to detect bacteremia (infection of the blood stream). Blood cultures should be performed in cats and dogs that have symptoms suspicious of bartonellosis or if the pet owner's physician requests testing. Serologic testing is considered to be relatively insensitive and not very reliable.
A newer diagnostic test that involves utilizing an enrichment culture to encourage growth of the Bartonella organism followed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing is being developed and may become an alternative method of testing. However, this test is still in the developmental stage and is not currently being used for diagnosis.
Treating Bartonellosis in Pets
Various antibiotics have been used to treat pets infected with Bartonella, including enrofloxicin, doxycycline, erythromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline and azithromycin. It is not currently known which antibiotic is most effective against the various types of Bartonella species.
Prevention of Bartenellosis
The best way to prevent the spread of bartenellosis is to prevent household pets from becoming infested with fleas and ticks. It appears that an arthropod vector is necessary for spread between individuals and Bartonella infections have not been noted in households that are flea-free, although there is concern about tick infestations as well.
Bartonella is an organism that has serious zoonotic potential for people, meaning that spread from pets to people is a major concern. Though cat scratch disease or cat scratch fever is the most commonly seen zoonotic disease associated with Bartonella and is most often caused by a specific species (Bartonella henselae), other species of Bartonella have been recognized in many other species of animals, leading to concern about zoonotic potential with these species as well.
Source:
"Hot Literature - Bartonellosis: What do we know? What can we do?" Veterinary Medicine, April, 2010 (105): p. 159-162.
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