Bartonella: The Cat Scratch Disease Bacteria

Approximately 20% of healthy cats in the United States are infected carriers of Bartonella bacteria. There are five members of Bartonella family: Bartonella heselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella koehlerae, Bartonella elizabethae, and Bartonella weissii, which are transmitted between cats by fleas and ticks. Bartonella is a zoonotic disease which means it can be transmitted from your pet to you via cat scratches and bites, contact with fur, and rarely by infected fleas and ticks.

Bartonella and Cats

The surface of Bartonella bacteria has a hair-like structure that is able to stick to red blood cells and the cells that make up capillaries walls of the circulatory system. Since capillaries are found in all tissues, all tissues are susceptible to the inflammatory reactions caused by Bartonella. Inflammatory reactions often occur in multiple sites such as the mouth,  respiratory mucosa, ocular tissues, the gastrointestinal tissues, the skin, and organs such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. It shows up in your cat as chronic disease such as inflammation of the eyes, the gums, and oral cavity, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, upper respiratory infection, and in some cats, vague neurological signs.

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Bartonella and Humans

Cat Scratch Disease is the most known illness caused by Bartonella bacteria in humans. More than 22,000 cases occur each year, of which more than 2,000 people required hospitalization. Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease include enlarged, inflamed, and painful lymph nodes.  In some severe cases, the infected lymph nodes may become abscessed and burst. Antibiotics can shorten the clinical course, which usually lasts 6 to 8 weeks if not treated.

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Testing Cats

Cats that suffer chronic illness are candidates for Bartonella test. However, most infected cats are healthy and showing no sign of illness. Approximately 20% of healthy cats are Bartonella bacteria carriers; and we recommend that all healthy cats and kittens be tested.  Cats at highest risk include:

* Those obtained from shelters, rescue organizations, or as strays;

*Cats that have had flea infestations at any time

* Those owned by people who are immunosuppressed by chemotherapy, organ transplants, or HIV infection

* Those owned by people who have young children.

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Test and Treatment for Bartonella Infected Cats

Test - The Bartonella test requires only a small sample of blood, and is performed by The National Veterinary Laboratory Inc. in Franklin Lake, New Jersey. The lab checks for antibodies against the bacteria. Finding high amounts of these antibodies in the blood indicate infection or a carrier state.

Treatment - If the Bartonella test comes back positive, an antibiotic will be prescribed by our veterinarians.

Prevention of Bartonella  -  Fleas can infect the cat repeatedly with Bartonella after treatment. Therefore, flea control is extremely important in preventing reinfection of cats testing positive. Please see our recommendations on flea control or ask one of our veterinarians for advice.

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