Bartonella henselae

Background

• Causes cat-scratch disease

Epidemiology

• Present worldwide
• Main reservoir is cats, and especially kittens
• Infections are more common in children, likely due to increased exposure to kittens
• Transmitted to humans by inoculation of cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) feces into a cat scratch or bite

Clinical Presentation

• Classic cat-scratch disease is a self-limited febrile illness with regional lymphadenopathy
• Other syndromes include:
  • Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome, with granulomatous conjunctivitis and ipsilateral regional lymphadenopathy
  • Neuroretinitis and other ophthalmic complications
  • Fever of unknown origin, in children
  • Culture-negative endocarditis in patients with existing valve abnormalities
  • Chronic endocarditis, with vasculitis and glomerulonephritis
• Disseminated disease is possible in immunocompromised patients, including bacteremia, disseminated skin lesions, and hepatsplenic lesions