Molecular and Serological Survey of the Cat-Scratch Disease Agent (Bartonella henselae) in Free-Ranging Leopardus geoffroyi and Leopardus wiedii (Carnivora: Felidae) From Pampa Biome, Brazil.

The genus Bartonella comprises emerging bacteria that affect humans and other mammals worldwide. Felids represent an important reservoir for several Bartonella species. Domestic cats are the main reservoir of Bartonella henselae, the agent of cat scratch disease (CSD). It can be transmitted directly by scratches and bites from infected cats and via cat fleas. This study aims to investigate the circulation of Bartonella spp. in free-ranging Neotropical wild felids from Southern Brazil using serological and molecular methods. In this study, 53 live-trapped free-ranging wild felids were sampled, 39 Leopardus geoffroyi and 14 Leopardus wiedii, from five municipalities in the Rio Grande, do Sul state, southern Brazil. All captured animals were clinically healthy. Two blood samples of L. geoffroyi were positive, by PCR, for the presence of B. henselae DNA. Conversely, none of L. wiedii blood samples were positive when tested using PCR. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) showed that 28% of serum samples of wild felids were reactive (seropositive) for B. henselae by immunofluorescence, with titers ranging from 64 to 256. The results presented here provide the first evidence of a Bartonella-enzootic cycle involving L. geoffroyi and L. wiedii, which may account for the spillover of the emerging zoonotic pathogen B. henselae for the indigenous fauna in Southern Brazil.

Levantamento de anticorpos anti-bartonella henselae em felinos domiciliados na cidade de São Paulo, estado de São Paulo e sua importância em saúde pública / A survey of anti-bartonella henselae antibodies in domiciliated cats in the city of São Paulo, state of São Paulo and its importance in public health

A Doença da Arranhadura do Gato (DAG) é uma zoonose transmitida pelos gatos que caracteriza-se por linfoadenopatiaregional acompanhada por febre, anorexia e perda de peso. Em pacientes imunodeprimidos, como os aidéticos, o quadroevolui para outras formas, desde encefalopatias até para a Angiomatose e a Peliose Bacilares, de evolução fatal. Os felídeos,principalmente os gatos domésticos, são o reservatório do agente, a Bartonella henselae, restando confirmar a idade na qualeles estão mais aptos a transmitir a doença. Foram analisados 200 soros de felinos na cidade de São Paulo, estado de SãoPaulo, no período de janeiro de 1996 até dezembro de 1997 através da técnica da imunofluorescência indireta. A metade delesera saudável e a outra metade era composta por animais atendidos no Ambulatório do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade deSão Paulo. Os animais foram divididos em 4 grupos baseados em sua faixa etária: animais de até 6 meses de idade, entre 7e 12 meses, animais de mais de 1 ano até 2 anos e outros com mais de 2 anos. O objetivo foi avaliar a presença de anticorposIgG anti-B henselae nos quatro grupos de animais, bem como o encontro desses anticorpos e o sexo ou o estado de higidezdos felinos. Foi encontrada soropositividade de 16% para B. henselae e observou-se que o maior número de animaisreagentes se encontrava na faixa etária de 7 a 12 meses, e que não houve diferença entre a soropositividade e os sexos, ouentre os animais hígidos ou doentes. Concluiu-se, assim, que a infecção nos felinos se dá nas faixas etárias mais jovens como desenvolvimento de anticorpos humorais, que diminuem conforme a idade dos animais

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is a human disease transmited by scratch or bite of asyntomatics cats and characterized byregional limphadenopaty with fever, anorexy and weigh loss. In immunosupressed patients, like AIDS patients, there aresystemic clinical presentations (bacillary angiomatosis or bacillary splenits), gerally fatal. Domestic cats are the main reservoirof Bartonella henselae, the agent of CSD and this prevalence is evaluated by serological test. In the period from January 1996to December 1997, two hundred sera samples of domestic cat from city of São Paulo were analized by using indirectimunofluorescence test. Fifty percent of the animals were clinically healthy and other half was comprised by felines attended atVeterinary Hospital – University of São Paulo estate of São Paulo - Brasil . Felines were divided in four groups according to theirages: animal up to six months old, between seven and twelve months old, between one and two years old, and older than twoyears old. We intended to evaluate the presence of IgG- Bartonella henselae antibodies in the four groups of animals, relationshipsbetween antibodis and gender, and health status of the felines, as well. Seropositivity of 16 % was found for B. henselae. Whenthe age was analyzed, the evidence that within the group between seven and twelve months of age, was significantly higher thanthe other groups. There were no diference between genders, or between health and sick animals. We concluded, that theinfection of felines happens at younger age, due to development of humoral antibodies that decrease with the age of animals