Cat scratch disease: the rare role of Afipia felis.
Since its isolation in 1988, Afipia felis has been associated with cat scratch disease (CSD) in only one report and its role in CSD has been questioned. We have cultured A. felis from a lymph node of a patient with CSD. 16S rRNA gene sequencing, DNA relatedness studies, fatty acid analysis, and PCR of the A. felis ferredoxin gene showed that the isolate is identical to the previously reported A. felis isolate. To determine the role of A. felis in CSD, PCR of the 16S rRNA gene followed by hybridizations with specific probes were performed with lymph node specimens from CSD patients. All 32 specimens tested positive for Bartonella henselae and negative for A. felis. We conclude that A. felis is a rare cause of CSD. Diagnostic tests not conducive to the identification of A. felis might cause the diagnosis of CSD due to A. felis to be missed.
The Bernard Pridan Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases, Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. giladi@tasmc.health.gov.il
M
M
Giladi
B
B
Avidor
Y
Y
Kletter
S
S
Abulafia
L N
LN
Slater
D F
DF
Welch
D J
DJ
Brenner
A G
AG
Steigerwalt
A M
AM
Whitney
M
M
Ephros
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D017931:DNA Primers; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
D017931:DNA Primers; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S