Abstract
Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease. To study the seroepidemiology of Bartonella henselae in healthy Chilean children and in a population with occupational risk. Serum IgG antibodies were determined by indirect fluorescence technique in 181 children and adolescents and in 107 technical and professional workers involved in the care of cats. Samples with titers equal to or greater than 64 were considered positive. Twenty four (13.3%) children and 11 (10.3%) occupational risk subjects were seropositive. No significant differences by age and gender were observed. Assuming that seroprevalence indicates level of exposure to Bartonella henselae, these results suggest that this infection is endemic in Chile and, for this reason, the best antibody titer to diagnose acute cat-scratch disease should be higher than the figure recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in the in United States.
Highlights
Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of catscratch disease
Conclusions: Assuming that seroprevalence indicates level of exposure to Bartonella henselae, these results suggest that this infection is endemic in Chile and, for this reason, the best antibody titer to diagnose acute cat-scratch disease should be higher than the figure recommended by the Centers for Disease Control in the in United States (Rev Méd Chile 2006; 134: 863-7). (Key words: Antibodies, bacterial; Bartonella henselae; Cat-scratch disease)
Rosanna Lagos, del Centro de Vacunas para el Desarrollo de Santiago, quien nos proporcionó los sueros de la población pediátrica
Summary
Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of catscratch disease. Aim: To study the seroepidemiology of Bartonella henselae in healthy Chilean children and in a population with occupational risk. Bartonella henselae es reconocida como el agente etiológico de la enfermedad por arañazo de gato (EAG) desde 1994. Estudios realizados por investigadores del Centro de Control de Enfermedades de Atlanta (CDC), EE.UU, han estimado que títulos de IgG específica anti-Bartonella henselae iguales o mayores a 64 (los títulos se reportan como el inverso de la dilución del suero), se correlacionan bien con enfermedad aguda, ya que se encuentran en más de 85% de los casos clínicos sintomáticos de EAG y sólo en 3% de los controles sanos[3]. En ese país, se considera que la presencia de IgG anti- Bartonella henselae en título de 64 en un sujeto sin manifestaciones clínicas de EAG es indicativo de exposición previa a la bacteria y es por tanto, el nivel de corte usado para estudios de seroprevalencia. El objetivo primario de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos IgG antiBartonella henselae en dos poblaciones chilenas: niños y adolescentes sanos y sujetos con exposición ocupacional a gatos. Los objetivos secundarios fueron identificar posibles diferencias por edad y género; comparar las prevalencias obtenidas en ambas poblaciones; e investigar posibles factores asociados a la infección en los sujetos con riesgo laboral
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