title: Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in patients awaiting heart transplant in Southern Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bartonella henselae is the etiologic agent of cat-scratch disease. B. henselae infections are responsible for a widening spectrum of human diseases, although often symptomless, ranging from self-limited to life-threatening and show different courses and organ involvement due to the balance between host and pathogen. The role of the host immune response to B. henselae is critical in preventing progression to systemic disease. Indeed in immunocompromised patients, such as solid organ transplant patients, B. henselae results in severe disseminated disease and pathologic vasoproliferation. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of B. henselae in patients awaiting heart transplant compared to healthy individuals enrolled in the Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology of Second University of Naples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples of 38 patients awaiting heart transplant in comparison to 50 healthy donors were examined using immunfluorescence assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a B. henselae significant antibody positivity rate of 21% in patients awaiting heart transplant (p = 0.002). There was a positive rate of 8% (p > 0.05) for immunoglobulin (Ig)M and a significant value of 13% (p = 0.02) for IgG, whereas controls were negative both for IgM and IgG antibodies against B. henselae. The differences in comorbidity between cases and controls were statistically different (1.41 ± 0.96 vs 0.42 ± 0.32; p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study was conducted in a small number of patients, we suggest that the identification of these bacteria should be included as a routine screening analysis in pretransplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy; U.O.C. Division of Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology, Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: antonietta.picascia@policliniconapoli.it.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picascia
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy; Department of Integrated Activities of Laboratory Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliuca
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Division of Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology, Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sommese
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy; Institute of Diagnostic and Nuclear Development (SDN), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colicchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casamassimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Activities of Laboratory Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Labonia
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabiria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.affiliation: Department of Sciences and Technologies, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagliarulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Annunziata Gaetana
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cicatiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castaldo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Nuclear Development (SDN), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Sciences, Monaldi Hospital, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pathology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mezza
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pathology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Paolo
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: D'Armiento
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Division of Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Immunology, Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy; Institute of Diagnostic and Nuclear Development (SDN), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Napoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Bartonella henselae; awaiting heart transplant; infection; seroprevalence