Coinfection with Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella henselae and with different Bartonella henselae strains in domestic cats

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 35; no. 8; pp. 2120 - 2123
• Main Authors: Gurfield, A.N. (University of California, Davis, Ca.), Boulouis, H.J, Chomel, B.B, Heller, R, Kasten, R.W, Yamamto, K, Piemont, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.08.1997
• Subjects: Animal bacterial diseases; Animals; Bacterial diseases; Bartonella - isolation & purification; Bartonella henselae; Bartonella henselae - isolation & purification; Bartonella Infections - epidemiology; Bartonella Infections - veterinary; Biological and medical sciences; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - microbiology; Cat-Scratch Disease - microbiology; Cats; CHAT; Female; GATO; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; RNA, Bacterial - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; France; Europe; Western Europe; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Mixed infection; Prevalence; Typing; Genetic variability; Rickettsialosis; Ribosomal DNA; Cat scratch disease; Epidemiology; Infection; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Restriction fragment length polymorphism; DNA; Domestic animal; Cat; Bacteriosis; 16S-RNA; Bacteria; Bartonellosis; Bartonellaceae
• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.35.8.2120-2123.1997
• ISSN: 0095-1137

Bartonella clarridgeiae and several strains of Bartonella henselae, the agent of cat scratch disease, with variations in the 16S rRNA gene have been found to infect the blood of cats. An epidemiologic study of Bartonella infection in domestic French cats revealed that of 436 cats sampled, 5 cats (1.1%) were coinfected with B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae and 2 cats (0.5%) were coinfected with two strains of B. henselae with variations in the 16S rRNA gene, B. henselae type I and type II. In an indirect immunofluorescence assay, coinfected cats tested positive for both Bartonella species at titers of greater than or equal to 128. Identification of the colonies was achieved by preformed enzyme analysis, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the citrate synthase gene, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Colony size differences in mixed culture allowed differentiation of the Bartonella species. The coinfection of cats with two Bartonella species or variants of the same species raises concern about the possibility of dual infection in humans. The development of a polyvalent vaccine targeted against the most pathogenic or invasive strains may be a means of protecting cats and man from infection