Bartonella Information: B. henselae and B.

vinsonii
Serology and PCR tests available
Bartonella henselae - Seroreactivity (antibody titers >1:64) is indicative of prior or current infection. Bartonella henselae is an important flea-transmitted zoonotic pathogen. The cat is a major reservoir for human infection. Fever and bacteremia, endocarditis, lymphadenopathy (cat scratch disease in people), bacillary angiomatosis, neurologic dysfunction and retinal disease can be caused by B. henselae, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Following flea transmission or blood transfusion to cats, B. henselae causes a relapsing pattern of bacteremia, persisting for months to years. Although most cats appear healthy, transient lethargy, fever, lymphadenopathy, gingivitis, stomatitis, uveitis, and neurologic dysfunction have occurred in bacteremic cats. The role of B. henselae as a cause or cofactor in chronic diseases of cats remains unclear. Seroreactivity and bacteremia are frequently detected in cats with a history of flea infestation. Bartonella vinsonii - Seroreactivity (antibody titers >1:64) is indicative of prior or current infection. Bartonella vinsonii is an emerging bacterial pathogen of dogs that has been associated with endocarditis, lymphadenitis, granulomatous lesions, epistaxis, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, neurologic dysfunction, and potentially polyarthritis. The organism appears to be tick-transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus and may be co-transmitted with Ehrlichia canis or Babesia canis. Concurrent infection with Bartonella may interfere with the expected therapeutic elimination of E. canis with doxycycline. Similar to Ehrlichia canis, some healthy dogs can be chronically infected. The role of B. vinsonii as a cause of other disease processes in dogs awaits the results of future research studies.

Treatment of bartonella infection in cats and dogs

The optimal treatment of bartonella infections in cats or dogs has not been established. Clinical and research observations suggest that therapeutic elimination of bartonella infections may be difficult to achieve, if not impossible. For severe life-threatening bartonella infections (endocarditis, myocarditis) initial treatment with a penicillin derivative (ampicillin, amoxicillin) and an aminoglycoside (amikacin) is currently recommended. For treatment of chronic disease manifestations or long-term treatment of endocarditis, a macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin) or a combination of a penicillin derivative and a fluoroquinolone antibiotic would be recommended. Oral treatments should be administered for a minimum of six weeks. http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vth/ticklab.html