title: Serological evidence of Bartonella henselae infection in healthy people in Catalonia, Spain.
abstract: Cat scratch disease (CSD), bacillary angiomatosis, hepatic peliosis and some cases of bacteraemia, endocarditis, and osteomyelitis are directly caused by some species of the genus Bartonella. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against Bartonella henselae in healthy people and to identify the epidemiological factors involved. Serum samples from 218 patients were examined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Significance levels for univariate statistical analysis were determined by the Mann-Whitney U test, chi2 test and Fisher's exact test. Of 218 patients, 99 were female and 119 male, with a median age of 34.36 years (range 0-91 years). Nineteen (8.7%) reacted with B. henselae antigens. Of all the factors concerning the seroprevalence rate being studied (age, sex, contact with animals, residential area), only age was statistically significant. Our serological data seems to indicate that B. henselae is present in Catalonia and could be transmitted to humans.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. ipons@tauli.cat
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanfeliu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cardeñosa
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nogueras
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Font
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Segura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016917:Angiomatosis, Bacillary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G