Microbial culture of blood samples and serologic testing for bartonellosis in cats with chronic rhinosinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of Bartonella spp in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) by determining detection rates for the organism by serologic testing and microbial culture of blood samples for Bartonella spp in cats with CRS and control cats (cats with other nasal diseases, cats with systemic illnesses, and healthy cats).


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
19 cats with CRS, 10 cats with other nasal diseases, 15 cats with systemic illness, and 15 healthy cats. Procedures-Serologic testing for Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella henselae and microbial culture of blood samples were conducted in all cats. In cats with CRS and cats with other nasal diseases, a nasal biopsy specimen was submitted, when available, for tissue PCR assay to detect Bartonella spp.


RESULTS
9 of 19 cats with CRS had positive results for serologic testing for 1 or both Bartonella spp; whereas, 4 of 10 cats with other nasal diseases, 2 of 15 cats with systemic diseases, and 4 of 15 healthy cats had positive results for serologic testing to detect Bartonella spp. These values did not differ significantly among groups. Microbial culture of blood samples yielded B henselae in 1 cat with a nasopharyngeal abscess. The PCR assay for Bartonella spp in nasal tissues yielded negative results for 9 of 9 cats with CRS and 5 of 5 cats with other nasal diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
A role for Bartonella spp in the pathogenesis of CRS in cats was not supported by results of this study.
Berryessa
Nicolas A
NA
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Johnson
Lynelle R
LR
Kasten
Rick W
RW
Chomel
Bruno B
BB
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001473:Bartonella / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial