Antibodies in Serum and Oral Fluid Specimens from Cats.

Cats are the primary reservoir host for ), an etiological agent of human bartonellosis, including cat scratch disease. Although DNA has been amplified from salivary swabs from cats, dogs and humans, we are not aware of studies investigating antibodies in oral fluid (OF). Using inhouse and commercial immunofluorescence antibody assays (IFA), the objective of this study was to detect and compare antibodies against in paired OF and serum specimens from cats. Specimens were collected from shelter and client-owned cats. For serum specimens, seroreactivity was 78% for both the inhouse and commercial IFA assays and 56.8% for OF specimens. Comparing serum and OF specimens, there was moderate Kappa agreement (Cohen's k = 0.434) for detection of antibodies. Oral fluid antibodies were more likely measurable in cats with high serum antibody titers when compared with low antibody titers. In conclusion, OF IFA antibody measurements were less sensitive compared to serum IFA measurements of ≥1:64. Oral fluid antibodies were detected more often in cats with high serum antibody titers. Therefore, OF antibodies, detectable by IFA, is of limited utility for epidemiological or diagnostic testing in cats.