<i>Bartonella</i> Neuroretinitis with Initial Seronegativity and an Absent Macular Star: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is an infectious disease caused by <i>Bartonella henselae</i>, presenting with fever and lymphadenopathy following contact with felines. The ocular manifestations include neuroretinitis, characterised by optic nerve swelling and a macular star. Case Presentation: We discuss a case of neuroretinitis that presented atypically, without a macular star. There was an initial suspicion of <i>Bartonella</i>, but the serology was negative. Our patient was eventually empirically treated for infective neuroretinitis based on a positive contact history (recently scratched by one of his three pet cats). There was progression to a macular star upon serial dilated fundus examination, and the repeated serology one week after symptom onset showed rising titres, supporting a diagnosis of CSD. Conclusions: A judicious review of systems, repeat assays, serial dilated fundus examination, and early ophthalmic evaluation are useful in cases of suspected neuroretinitis, remaining an important differential in the evaluation of sudden-onset painless vision loss and unilateral disc swelling.