Department of Veterinary Public Health, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
Res Vet Sci. 2010 Jun;88(3):379-84. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2009.11.005. Epub 2009 Dec 5.
Bartonella henselae is considered an emerging pathogen of veterinary and medical interest that can be occasionally transmitted to humans. Cats are considered to be the only reservoir host for B. henselae. In this study, we used a nested-PCR assay to investigate the prevalence of B.henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae DNA in peripheral blood samples, fine needle lymph node aspirate specimens and oral swabs from 85 cats in order to develop an easy diagnostic strategy for the selection of infection-free cats that are being considered as pets, especially for immunocompromised patients. Overall, molecular analysis showed that 71 cats (83.5%) tested PCR positive for the presence of B. henselae DNA. PCR amplification of DNA B. henselae produced positive products from lymph node aspirate specimens (62/85; 72.9%) similar to those obtained from blood samples (60/85; 70.6%) and higher than those from oral swabs (51/85; 60%) of cats. No PCR product was obtained for B. clarridgeiae. The simultaneous analysis of three different clinical samples in our study increased the diagnostic possibilities for B. henselae infection in the examined cats from 60-72.9% to 83.5%. Lymph node aspirates were found to be the most effective clinical samples for the detection of B. henselae and blood samples were the next best. Oral swab samples were used in this study with good results when considered in combination with blood and/or lymph node aspiration. The use of nested-PCR assay on these three clinical samples may enhance the diagnostic sensitivity for bartonellosis in cats irrespective of the clinical status of animals.
汉赛巴尔通体被认为是一种具有兽医和医学意义的新兴病原体，偶尔可传播给人类。猫被认为是汉赛巴尔通体唯一的储存宿主。在这项研究中，我们使用巢式 PCR 检测法，调查了 85 只猫外周血样本、细针淋巴结抽吸标本和口腔拭子中汉赛巴尔通体和巴尔通体克拉里奇亚种 DNA 的流行情况，以制定一种简单的诊断策略，用于选择无感染的猫作为宠物，尤其是免疫功能低下的患者。总的来说，分子分析显示，71 只猫（83.5%）的外周血样本检测出汉赛巴尔通体 DNA 呈阳性。PCR 扩增汉赛巴尔通体 DNA 从淋巴结抽吸标本（62/85；72.9%）中获得的阳性产物与从血液样本（60/85；70.6%）中获得的阳性产物相似，高于从猫口腔拭子（51/85；60%）中获得的阳性产物。未从巴尔通体克拉里奇亚种中获得 PCR 产物。在本研究中同时分析三种不同的临床样本，将检测猫中汉赛巴尔通体感染的诊断可能性从 60-72.9%提高到 83.5%。研究发现，淋巴结抽吸物是检测汉赛巴尔通体最有效的临床样本，其次是血液样本。口腔拭子样本在本研究中与血液和/或淋巴结抽吸物联合使用时效果良好。使用巢式 PCR 检测这三种临床样本可以提高猫巴尔通体病的诊断敏感性，而与动物的临床状况无关。
