Bartonella henselae Antibodies in Serum and Oral Fluid Specimens from Cats.

Alejandra Álvarez-Fernández,Edward B Breitschwerdt,Laia Solano-Gallego,David Prandi,Marta Baxarias

doi:10.3390/pathogens10030329

Alejandra Álvarez-Fernández, Edward B Breitschwerdt + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10030329

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Abstract

Cats are the primary reservoir host for Bartonella henselae (B. henselae), an etiological agent of human bartonellosis, including cat scratch disease. Although Bartonella DNA has been amplified from salivary swabs from cats, dogs and humans, we are not aware of studies investigating Bartonella antibodies in oral fluid (OF). Using inhouse and commercial immunofluorescence antibody assays (IFA), the objective of this study was to detect and compare antibodies against B. henselae in paired OF and serum specimens from cats. Specimens were collected from shelter and client-owned cats. For serum specimens, B. henselae seroreactivity was 78% for both the inhouse and commercial IFA assays and 56.8% for OF specimens. Comparing serum and OF specimens, there was moderate Kappa agreement (Cohen’s k = 0.434) for detection of B. henselae antibodies. Oral fluid antibodies were more likely measurable in cats with high B. henselae serum antibody titers when compared with low antibody titers. In conclusion, B. henselae OF IFA antibody measurements were less sensitive compared to serum IFA measurements of ≥1:64. Oral fluid antibodies were detected more often in cats with high B. henselae serum antibody titers. Therefore, OF antibodies, detectable by IFA, is of limited utility for epidemiological or diagnostic testing in cats.

Highlights

Cats are the primary reservoir for B. henselae, the etiological agent of human cat scratch disease, and a major cause of bartonellosis across animal species [1,2]
Bartonella henselae is considered a stealth pathogen, in dogs and humans, where published data is expanding the spectrum of clinical manifestations that have been historically associated with this infection [3]
DNA in oral samples obtained from cats [20,27,28], to the best of our knowledge, studies reporting the presence of B. henselae antibodies in oral fluid (OF) samples have not been published

Summary

Introduction

Cats are the primary reservoir for B. henselae, the etiological agent of human cat scratch disease, and a major cause of bartonellosis across animal species [1,2]. Bartonella henselae is considered a stealth pathogen, in dogs and humans, where published data is expanding the spectrum of clinical manifestations that have been historically associated with this infection [3]. Documentation of Bartonella infection in most animal species remains a challenge due to the lack of sensitive and/or specific testing modalities. Testing limitations apply to diagnostic assays used to evaluate cats, dogs and humans for indirect (antibody) or direct (culture, antigen, DNA) evidence of Bartonella spp. infections [4,5,6]. The combination of a thorough clinical data analysis, including age, sex, animal and arthropod vector exposure history, physical examination findings, ancillary laboratory testing, in conjunction with indirect and direct diagnostic microbiological techniques is the most effective strategy for the diagnosis of Bartonella spp. infections [6,10,11]

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