Bartonella henselae lives quietly in many cats and passes to people as cat scratch disease. Most cats are carriers that never look ill, so the exam question is usually about interpreting a positive test, deciding whether to treat, and advising owners, especially those with weakened immune systems.
Key facts
Bartonellosis at a glance- Species and system: cat; multisystemic infectious disease.
- Cause: Bartonella henselae is the most common species in cats; B. clarridgeiae, B. koehlerae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii can also infect them, and co-infection occurs.
- Vector: cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis felis); flea feces are infectious.
- Classic presentation: none. Most infected cats are healthy carriers.
- Zoonotic: yes. Cat scratch disease; bacillary angiomatosis in immunocompromised people.
- No vaccine exists. Strict flea control is the only effective prevention.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Putting it together in practice
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 self-test questions and 5 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.