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.
Kabeya
Hidenori
H
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. kabeya@brs.nihon-u.ac.jp
Umehara
Tamao
T
Okanishi
Hiroki
H
Tasaki
Izumi
I
Kamiya
Misako
M
Misawa
Akihiro
A
Mikami
Takeshi
T
Maruyama
Soichi
S
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