Prevalence of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae in cats in the south of Brazil: a molecular study
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
; 105(7): 873-878, Nov. 2010. ilus
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-566176
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Bartonella spp are the causative agent of cat scratch disease in humans. Cats are the natural reservoir of these bacteria and may infect humans through scratches, bites or fleas. Blood samples from 47 cats aged up to 12 months were collected for this study. All animals were lodged in municipal animal shelters in the Vale do Sinos region, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Bartonella spp were detected by genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and when the PCR was positive, the species were determined by DNA sequencing. A Giemsa-stained blood smear was also examined for the presence of intraerythrocytic elements suggestive of Bartonella spp infection. Phylogenetic analysis was also performed for all positive samples. Using molecular detection methods, Bartonella spp were detected in 17.02 percent (8/47) of the samples. In seven out of eight samples confirmed to be positive for Bartonella spp, blood smear examination revealed the presence of intraerythrocytic elements suggestive of Bartonella spp. Phylogenetic analysis characterized positive samples as Bartonella henselae (5) or Bartonella clarridgeiae (3). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular study demonstrating the presence of Bartonella spp in cats from the Southern Region of Brazil.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Bartonella
/
Bartonella Infections
/
Cat Diseases
Type of study:
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
MEDICINA TROPICAL
/
PARASITOLOGIA
Year:
2010
Document type:
Article
Country of publication:
Brazil