BartonellaSpecies Antibodies and Hyperglobulinemia in Privately Owned Cats

Abstract

Background Bartonella species are zoonotic agents and primary pathogens in cats. Hyperglobulinemia has been associated with bartonellosis in humans and cats. Hypothesis/Objectives To evaluate for associations between Bartonella species immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and serum biochemistry panel results in privately owned cats. Animals 1,477 privately owned cats. Methods Residual sera were collected after biochemical evaluation for this prospective, cross‐sectional serosurvey. Bartonella species IgG ELISA was performed with a cutoff value of ≥1 : 64. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed with the endpoint titer as the outcome variable. The final statistical model included age, albumin, ALP activity, ALT activity, bilirubin, creatinine, glucose, and globulin as covariates. Serum protein electrophoresis was performed with serum from 50 cats with and without antibodies to Bartonella species and hyperglobulinemia. Sera from cats seropositive to Bartonella species and with hyperglobulinemia were assessed for evidence of exposure to other infectious agents associated with hyperglobulinemia. Results Risk of seropositivity to Bartonella species was positively associated with the natural log of globulin concentration (OR = 11.90, 95% CI 6.15–23.02, P < .0001), and inversely associated with the natural log of glucose concentration (OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.50–0.87, P = .004). Another explanation for hyperglobulinemia was not identified for most cats with Bartonella species antibodies. Hyperglobulinemia was primarily caused by polyclonal gammopathy in cats that were seronegative and seropositive for Bartonella species. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Hyperglobulinemia was significantly associated with seropositivity to Bartonella species. Testing for bartonellosis is warranted in cats with unexplained hyperglobulinemia and clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of bartonellosis.

Bartonella spp. and hematological changes in privately owned domestic cats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Hematological findings in Bartonella spp. infected cats are uncommon [9][10][11], although anemia, neutropenia and eosinophilia have been described in experimental infections [9,10]. Lymphocythosis has been strongly associated with the presence of B. henselae antibodies among naturally infected cats, probably due to induced polyclonal gammopathy [10].…”

“…Case-control studies have not proven an association between Bartonella and anemia, gingivostomatitis, neurologic conditions or uveitis [7,8]. Fever, lethargy, anorexia, local lymphadenopathy, myocarditis, neurologic disorders, among others, have been observed in experimental infections [7][8][9][10][11].…”

“…However lymphocytosis and hyperglobulinemia have been reported in cats with antibodies anti-B. henselae [10,11]. Domestic cats are becoming one of the most popular pets in the world.…”

Bartonellosis, One Health and all creatures great and small

“…antibodies have correlated with polyclonal hyperglobulinaemia and hypoglycaemia. 50 Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia syndrome has been reported in two dogs infected with a Bartonella sp. 51 Monoclonal gammopathies have been reported in association with bartonellosis in cats, dogs and humans.…”

Bartonella henselaeas a cause of acute-onset febrile illness in cats

“…[16][17][18][19][20][21] However, Whittemore et al found a correlation between Bartonella species antibodies and hypergammaglobulinemia in cats. 22 Sykes et al found an association between gingivitis and stomatitis and culturing Bartonella species from bacteremic cats, whereas there was no statistical difference in seroprevalence between cases and controls. 21 Also, a study from Switzerland, where the overall B henselae seroprevalence in 728 cats was low (8.3%) compared with many regions in North America where cat population seroprevalences are >40%, found a statistical correlation between seroreactivity and stomatitis.…”