Experimental infection of cats with Bartonella henselae resulted in rapid clearance associated with T helper 1 immune responses.
Six cats were inoculated with Bartonella henselae strains A and B, which were isolated from the same naturally infected cat. The numbers of CD4(+) cells decreased following the infection. The levels of bacteremia were significantly correlated with the expression levels of IFN-gamma mRNA during the various stages of bacteremia and elimination of the bacteremia. Furthermore, the lower levels of TNF-alpha mRNA expression during the bacteremia related to the emergence of higher levels of bacteremia. These results indicate that the activation of cell-mediated immune responses, including IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production, play an important role in elimination of B. henselae from bacteremic cats.
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. kabeya@brs.nihon-u.ac.jp
Hidenori
H
Kabeya
Tamao
T
Umehara
Hiroki
H
Okanishi
Izumi
I
Tasaki
Misako
M
Kamiya
Akihiro
A
Misawa
Takeshi
T
Mikami
Soichi
S
Maruyama
D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma