Abstract
Cats are a reservoir for Bartonella spp. infection in humans. Human bartonellosis causes disseminated inflammation to develop in immunocompromised patients, such as those infected with human immunodeficiency virus. However, the associated risks of Bartonella spp. infection in immunocompromised retroviral-infected cats have been inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the associated risks of Bartonella spp. infection with the alteration of T-lymphocyte subsets of retroviral-infected cats. We collected blood samples from 161 client-owned cats at veterinary clinics and hospitals throughout the Bangkok Metropolitan area from 2017 to 2020. The samples underwent hematological biochemical tests, feline retroviral status evaluation, Bartonella spp. polymerase chain reaction assay, immunofluorescence assay, and CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts. Risk factors associated with Bartonella spp. infection were determined by odds ratio (OR). Hematological and biochemical parameters were compared using independent t-tests. CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were compared among groups classified according to their retroviral and Bartonella spp. infection status. The prevalence of Bartonella spp. in our study cohort was 16.1%, and the seroprevalence was 94.9%. Cats aged >1 year were at a higher risk of seropositivity than cats aged <1 year (OR: 4.296, 95% confidence interval: 1.010-18.275). The CD8+ percentage was significantly higher in seropositive cats (p = 0.026). There was a significant reduction in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio between cats negative for both retrovirus and Bartonella spp. infection and cats with concurrent retrovirus and Bartonella spp. infection (p = 0.041). In endemic countries or areas, cat owners must be made aware of the risk of exposure to Bartonella spp. due to the high rate of bacteremia and seroprevalence. Retrovirus-infected cats with concurrent Bartonella spp. infection also showed a significant, inverted CD4+/CD8+ ratio, which may be used as a novel marker in bartonellosis. Similar studies focusing on the different stages of retrovirus infection should be undertaken further to elucidate the effect of retrovirus infection on Bartonella spp. infection.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.