Transmission
People can become infected with Bartonella henselae from scratches by domestic or feral cats, particularly kittens. Cats can carry fleas that harbor B. henselae bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans through scratches contaminated with flea feces. CSD caused by B. henselaeis most common in children under the age of 15.
Epidemiological evidence and experimental studies have shown that fleas play a crucial role in transmitting B. henselae between cats. B. henselae is naturally spread among cats by the flea Ctenocephalides felis, or through contact with flea feces.
Symptoms
Most cats with cat scratch fever show no symptoms. However, in rare cases, they may experience enlarged lymph nodes, a temporary fever, lethargy, anorexia, reproductive failure, or bacterial heart infections. It's essential to note that most infected cats appear healthy and symptom-free. On the other hand, humans are more prone to showing symptoms such as mild fever, chills, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, and skin or conjunctival lesions. While most symptoms last only a few days, the swollen lymph nodes can persist for weeks or months.
Diagnosis
If a cat is showing signs of the disease, several tests can be used to diagnose it. These tests include antibody testing to check for exposure to the bacteria, DNA testing (PCR) to identify the bacteria in the cat's blood, and blood culture to grow the bacteria present in the cat's bloodstream.
Treatment
Cat scratch fever usually doesn't require treatment in cats because their immune systems can usually handle the infection on their own. However, in rare cases, antibiotics may be necessary if the cats become ill. Treatment is considered when cats diagnosed with the disease live with individuals with weakened immune systems. The preferred treatment is antibiotic therapy for at least three weeks, although it can be challenging since Bartonella bacteria often develop resistance to antibiotics.
Prevention
There is no vaccine available against Bartonella infection. Strict flea and tick control is the only effective preventive measure.
Note
Bioguard’s Qmini PCR can detect B. henselae DNA in 90 minutes at your clinics using blood as samples.
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