Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bartonella henselae infection linked to heart and diaphragm
By Varanat, M et al.·Published in Veterinary pathology·2012·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Identification of Bartonella henselae in 2 cats with pyogranulomatous myocarditis and diaphragmatic myositis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Two cats from a North Carolina shelter died from serious heart and muscle inflammation caused by a bacteria called Bartonella henselae. Although many cats can carry this bacteria without showing symptoms, these two developed severe conditions known as pyogranulomatous myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and diaphragmatic myositis (inflammation of the diaphragm). Tests confirmed the presence of the bacteria in their tissues. This case highlights a possible link between Bartonella henselae and these previously unexplained heart and muscle issues in cats.
People also search for: cat heart disease symptoms · cat inflammation treatment · Bartonella henselae in cats
Abstract
Most cats infected with Bartonella henselae remain outwardly healthy carriers for years; however, self-limiting fever, transient anemia, neurologic dysfunction, lymphadenopathy, reproductive disorders, aortic valvular endocarditis, and neutrophilic myocarditis have been described in experimentally or naturally infected cats. Two cats in a North Carolina shelter died with pyogranulomatous myocarditis and diaphragmatic myositis. Bacteria were visualized in the lesions by Warthin-Starry silver impregnation and by B. henselae immunohistochemistry. B. henselae DNA was amplified and sequenced from the heart of 1 cat and from multiple tissue samples, including heart and diaphragm, from the second cat. This study supports a potential association between B. henselae and what has been historically described as "transmissible myocarditis and diaphragmitis" of undetermined cause in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21490304/