[Presence of Bartonella henselae in cats: natural reservoir quantification and human exposition risk of this zoonoses in Chile].
BACKGROUND
The availability of a serologic test for cat scratch disease in humans has allowed the diagnosis of an increasing number of cases of this disease in Chile.


OBJECTIVE
To perform a serological survey for Bartonella henselae among cats in Chile.


METHODS
Blood samples from 187 cats living in three Chilean cities were obtained. IgG antibodies against Bartonella henselae were measured using indirect immunofluorescence. Blood cultures were done in 60 samples. The presence of Bartonella henselae in positive cultures was confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR).


RESULTS
The general prevalence of IgG antibodies against Bartonella henselae was 85.6%. No differences in this prevalence were found among cats younger or older than 1 year, or those infested or not infested with fleas. However domestic cats had a lower prevalence when compared with stray cats (73 and 90% respectively, p <0.01). Bartonella henselae was isolated in 41% of blood cultures. All the isolated were confirmed as Bartonella henselae by RFLP-PCR.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found an important reservoir of Bartonella henselae in Chilean cats and therefore a high risk of exposure in humans who have contact with them.
Ferrés
Marcela
M
Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. mferres@med.puc.cl
Abarca
Katia
K
Godoy
Paula
P
García
Patricia
P
Palavecino
Elizabeth
E
Méndez
Gabriela
G
Valdés
Alicia
A
Ernst
Santiago
S
Thibaut
Julio
J
Koberg
Jurgen
J
Chanqueo
Leonardo
L
Vial
Pablo A
PA
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002415:Cats / Q000382:microbiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002677:Chile; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G