Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bartonella infection lasting longer in splenectomized cats with prior
By Sykes, Jane E et al.·Published in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology·2007·Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bartonella henselae infection in splenectomized domestic cats previously infected with hemotropic Mycoplasma species.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of domestic cats, some without spleens, were studied to see how they reacted to a bacterial infection called Bartonella henselae, which can cause cat scratch disease. While no major symptoms were noticed in any of the cats, those without spleens had a higher level of bacteria in their blood for a longer time, suggesting their immune systems were less effective at fighting the infection. However, the overall severity of the infection did not differ significantly between the two groups. This study highlights the importance of monitoring cats that have had splenectomies (spleen removal) for potential infections.
People also search for: cat scratch disease symptoms · splenectomy in cats · Bartonella infection treatment in cats
Abstract
Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae and the domestic cat represents its main reservoir. In immunocompromised patients, infection with B. henselae is characterized by more severe clinical forms than in non-immunocompromised individuals. The objective of the present study was to investigate the characteristics of B. henselae (Houston-I strain) infection in four splenectomized and three non-splenectomized cats, five of which were chronically infected with 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum'. No major clinical signs were observed in either group of cats. Cats in both splenectomized and non-splenectomized groups became bacteremic within a week post-inoculation. Although bacteremia was on average 10 days longer in the splenectomized cats, that difference was not statistically significant (P=0.72). In both groups, the level of bacteremia peaked within the same time frame; however, the level of bacteremia was about 10-fold higher in the splenectomized cats (P=0.007). Such a difference could be associated with a reduced immune response to the infection, especially a reduced ability to phagocytize Bartonella organisms in the splenectomized cats. Concurrent infection with 'Candidatus M. haemominutum' did not appear to alter the course of infection.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17254639/