Bartonella henselae as a cause of acute-onset febrile illness in cats

Breitschwerdt, Edward B; Broadhurst, Jack J; Cherry, Natalie A

In this study, WB results did not correlate with B henselae IFA titers, whereas in previous studies there were no correlations between ELISA and WB. 9, 16 Why WB, ELISA and IFA titers do not correlate deserves future research consideration. Also, WB titration results from case 3 were not informative for establishing antibiotic treatment failure. As cats (an unknown percentage), dogs (50-75% depending upon infecting Bartonella species), 32 horses (100%) 32 and humans (approximately 50-100% depending upon infecting Bartonella species) 33,34 can be Bartonella bacteremic without detectable IFAs, IFA serology has substantial lack of sensitivity across several animal species. Similarly, case 1 was initially WB negative despite documentation of bacteremia, whereas case 2 was not initially treated (owing to lack of illness), despite being WB positive. As a result of stress-induced interference with premonition (infection immunity), one might speculate that hospitalization and castration contributed to the onset of febrile illness in cases 1 and 2, 10-21 days later. At the time of illness onset and at the time of recrudescent febrile illness, case 2 was BAPGM blood culture/PCR positive. Also, in order to determine antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance patterns, it is important for diagnostic laboratories to culture Bartonella species from cats and other animals whenever possible.