PROLONGED BARTONELLA BACTEREMIA IN CATS ASSOCIATED WITH CAT-SCRATCH DISEASE PATIENTS

Recent evidence supports a causal relationship between Bartonella (Roc halimaea) henselae, cat-scratch disease (CSD), and bacillary angiomato sis. Cats appear to be the primary reservoir. Blood from 19 cats owned by 14 patients diagnosed with CSD was cultured. Blood samples from ca ts owned by veterinary students (n = 25) having no association with CS D or bacillary angiomatosis were cultured as controls. Eighty-nine per cent (17 of 19) of cats associated with CSD patients and 28% (7 of 25) of controls were bacteremic,vith Bartonella species (chi-square 16.47 ; P < 0.001). Twenty-three isolates were characterized as B. henselae, while one isolate from the cat of a CSD patient appeared to be a new Bartonella species. Thirteen cats remained culture positive during the ensuing 12-month period. Our results support the conclusion that B. h enselae is the predominant species involved in CSD and is transmitted by cats. The incidence of Bartonella bacteremia in control cats sugges ts that B. henselae bacteremia is prevalent among the domestic cat pop ulation in the United States.