Bartonella as Emerging Pathogens

5 International Conference on Bartonella as Emerging Pathogens: The combined meeting had participants from around the world including Australia, Asia, Europe, Russia, China, and North and South America. There were 199 abstracts at the meeting. The majority presented data on Rickettsia, whereas 42 abstracts were Bartonella topics. Twelve Bartonella abstracts were concerned with human topics, 5 were canine, 5 were small mammal, (rodent), 4 were cat, and 1 was Bartonella in cattle. Eight abstracts presented molecular aspects, 3 presented methods of detection (PCR and culture), and 2 each covered vectors and other topics. Whale watching off of Asilomar Cat Bartonella Abstracts Cytokine Production Profiles in Experimentally Bartonella henselae Infected Cats. H. Kabeya and S. Maruyama, Nihon University, Japan. This study described the changes in several cytokines as a result of experimental infection with Bartonella henselae in 6 SPF cats. All 6 cats developed specific IgG antibody to Bartonella proteins indicating infection. Interestingly, Bartonella was not always recovered in culture during the bacteremic phase. Some cats were culture positive then culture negative to be followed by culture positive again. The expression of mRNA levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, TNF-α, IL-12p40, IL-10 and TGF-β dramatically increased during bacteremia. The authors concluded that the cellmediated immune response may play a significant role in the control or elimination of Bartonella in cats. T Ja va pr m m an er ge Genomic Diversity in Feline and Clinical Bartonella henselae Isolates. H. Lindroos, et al. Uppsala University, Sweden. This group studied the genomic diversity of 37 isolates of Bartonella henselae isolated from cats and humans from 4 continents. The variation in gene content was low and did not relate to geographic origin or animal host (cat versus human). However, there were frequent gene rearrangements which may facilitate persistent infection by generating antigenic diversity leading to immune escape and persistence. Epidemiology of Bartonella Infection in Domestic Animals and Wildlife: An Update. B. Chomel, R. W. Kasten, and J. Henn. University of California, Davis, CA. This review described the detection of various Bartonella species in a diverse group of domestic and wild animals. Canids, particularly dogs, have been found to be infected with 6 species of Bartonella, some of which have been shown to infect people. Dogs are much less likely to transmit their Bartonella to people than are cats. Bartonella have been found in coyotes, gray foxes and raccoons. In addition to pet cats, pumas, bobcats, lions and cheetahs have also been found to be infected. Small woodland rodents, voles, mice, rats, and chipmunks have also been shown to carry Bartonella. Deer, cattle, sheep, and horses have also been found to be infected. Finally, Bartonella has been found in a marine mammal, the dolphin, and in bat ticks and bats. Editor’s Note: The Bartonella culture isolation variability in known infected SPF cats shows that culture is not an accurate method for diagnosing Bartonella infections. In contrast, all 6 infected cats produced antibody against Bartonella. In addition, since the elimination of Bartonella infection in untreated cats is slow, or non-existent in many cats, the cell-medicated immune response and cytokines may play pivotal roles in the inflammatory process that induces diseases seen in Bartonella infected Antibiotic Susceptibility of Bartonella henselae Isolated from Domestic Cats in Japan. H. Tsuneoka, M. Tomita and M. Tsukahara. Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan. hese authors isolated Bartonella from pet cats in pan and tested the isolates for susceptibility to rious antibiotics. As has been shown by evious workers, Bartonella are susceptible to any antibiotics and azithromycin and inocycline were most effective. Other tibiotics that were effective include: ythromycin, clarithromyscin, ciprofloxacin, ntamicin, ceftriaxone, and amoxicillin. Animals Recently Found to be Infected with Bartonella