Molecular survey of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae in pet cats across Japan by species-specific nested-PCR

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 145; no. 13; pp. 2694 - 2700
• Main Authors: SATO, S., KABEYA, H., NEGISHI, A., TSUJIMOTO, H., NISHIGAKI, K., ENDO, Y., MARUYAMA, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Bartonella - classification; Bartonella - genetics; Bartonella - isolation & purification; Bartonella henselae - classification; Bartonella henselae - genetics; Bartonella henselae - isolation & purification; Cat-Scratch Disease - epidemiology; Cat-Scratch Disease - microbiology; Cat-Scratch Disease - veterinary; Cats; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Epidemiology; Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - virology; Female; Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline - isolation & purification; Immunology; Infections; Infectious diseases; Internal medicine; Japan - epidemiology; Laboratories; Leukemia Virus, Feline - isolation & purification; Leukemia, Feline - epidemiology; Leukemia, Feline - virology; Male; Original Papers; Pets; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Prevalence; RNA, Ribosomal - analysis; RNA, Viral - analysis; rRNA 16S; rRNA 23S; Spacer region; Species; Statistical analysis; Veterinary medicine; Zoonoses; France; United States > US; Japan; Germany; Bartonella henselae; Japan; species-specific nested-PCR; Bartonella clarridgeiae
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268817001601

Cats are known to be the main reservoir for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae, which are the agents of ‘cat-scratch disease’ in humans. In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of the two Bartonella species on 1754 cat bloods collected from all prefectures in Japan during 2007–2008 by a nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region. Overall, Bartonella DNA was detected in 4·6% (80/1754) of the cats examined. The nested-PCR showed that 48·8% (39/80) of the positive cats were infected with B. henselae mono-infection, 33·8% (27/80) with B. clarridgeiae mono-infection and 17·5% (14/80) were infected with both species. The prevalence (5·9%; 65/1103) of Bartonella infection in the western part of Japan was significantly higher than that (2·3%; 15/651) of eastern Japan (P < 0·001). Statistical analysis of the cats examined suggested a significant association between Bartonella infection and FeLV infection (OR = 1·9; 95% CI = 1·1–3·4), but not with FIV infection (OR = 1·6; 95% CI = 1·0–2·6).