Abstract
The availability of a serologic test for cat scratch disease in humans has allowed the diagnosis of an increasing number of cases of this disease in Chile.To perform a serological survey for Bartonella henselae among cats in Chile.Blood samples from 187 cats living in three Chilean cities were obtained. IgG antibodies against Bartonella henselae were measured using indirect immunofluorescence. Blood cultures were done in 60 samples. The presence of Bartonella henselae in positive cultures was confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR).The general prevalence of IgG antibodies against Bartonella henselae was 85.6%. No differences in this prevalence were found among cats younger or older than 1 year, or those infested or not infested with fleas. However domestic cats had a lower prevalence when compared with stray cats (73 and 90% respectively, p <0.01). Bartonella henselae was isolated in 41% of blood cultures. All the isolated were confirmed as Bartonella henselae by RFLP-PCR.This study found an important reservoir of Bartonella henselae in Chilean cats and therefore a high risk of exposure in humans who have contact with them.
Highlights
The availability of a serologic test for cat scratch disease in humans has allowed the diagnosis of an increasing number of cases of this disease in Chile
Conclusions: This study found an important reservoir of Bartonella henselae in Chilean cats and therefore a high risk of exposure in humans who have contact with them (Rev Méd Chile 2005; 133: 1465-71). (Key Words: Bartonella henselae; Cat-scratch disease; cats)
Agradecimientos Agradecemos el apoyo y consejo de Rusell Regnery PhD, del Centro de Control de Enfermedades de Atlanta Estados Unidos, quien junto con proporcionar los antígenos de Bartonella henselae para la técnica de inmunofluorescencia indirecta, realizó la confirmación por técnica de PCR de las cepas aisladas en Chile
Summary
En Chile no es una enfermedad de notificación obligatoria, sin embargo, entre 1997 y 2000, se diagnosticaron más de 200 casos como parte de un proyecto de investigación llevado a cabo por los autores (comunicación personal M Ferrés) y existen publicaciones nacionales en que se describen diferentes presentaciones de EAG4-7. En Chile, a raíz del creciente diagnóstico de la infección en humanos por Bartonella henselae se inició el estudio del reservorio felino. El objetivo primario del presente estudio fue cuantificar la magnitud de la infección por Bartonella henselae en gatos de tres ciudades de Chile, representando a tres áreas geográficas distintas de nuestro país (norte, centro y sur), de esta manera estimar la magnitud del problema clínico que pudiese tener esta zoonosis en nuestra población. Como objetivo secundario nos propusimos identificar algunos factores de riesgo, que podrían determinar mayores niveles de infección por Bartonella henselae en la población felina estudiada
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