Serology toBartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae may replace traditional diagnostic criteria for cat-scratch disease

Abstract

Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae has been identified as causative agent of cat-scratch disease (CSD). Employing an indirect fluorescence antibody test we found that 20 (100%) out of 20 children with suspected CSD had serum titres to B. henselae of > or = 512. By contrast, in all but one of the controls (n = 332) including subjects exposed to the same cats, patients with diseases other than CSD, and blood donors the antibody titres were < or = 256 (P < 0.001). However, significant regional differences in seroprevalence were noted. CONCLUSION. Serology to B. henselae may supplant traditional criteria for the diagnosis of CSD and prevent patients from unnecessary surgery.

Comparison of In-House and Commercial Slides for Detection by Immunofluorescence of Immunoglobulins G and M againstBartonella henselaeandBartonella quintana

“…The cutoff titer may depend on the seroprevalence of antibodies to Bartonella spp. in the population, and this may vary with geographical region (45,48,55,65). We found a specificity of 98.8% with the in-house test but only 87% with the FT test for the 85 controls we studied.…”

Serological Investigation ofBartonella henselaeInfections in Clinically Cat‐Scratch Disease‐Suspected Patients, Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases, and Healthy Veterinary Students in Japan

“…The positive rates to the organism in CSD individuals varied from 6.3% (26/412) in Italy (4) to 100% (20/20) in Switzerland (12). A higher seropositive rate against B. henselae in CSD-suspected patients in Japan indicated that B. henselae was also a major causative agent of the disease.…”

Polymerase chain reaction detection of Bartonella henselae bacteraemia in an immunocompetent child with cat-scratch disease

“…The role of B. henselae as the major causative agent of CSD has been based on serological survey [23], culture [18], and detection by PCR-based molecular techniques [3±5, 7, 12, 27] from clinical specimens of patients with CSD. Currently the laboratory diagnosis of CSD is based on serology [9,21,23] and PCR-based assays [3±5, 7, 12, 27] due to the diculty to establish a gold standard. Although serology is characterized by a cross-reactivity with other Bartonella species [17], nevertheless it might be considered the method of choice in CSD diagnosis [13,21].…”

“…Currently the laboratory diagnosis of CSD is based on serology [9,21,23] and PCR-based assays [3±5, 7, 12, 27] due to the diculty to establish a gold standard. Although serology is characterized by a cross-reactivity with other Bartonella species [17], nevertheless it might be considered the method of choice in CSD diagnosis [13,21]. However, either in atypical cases of CSD or when serology results are not yet positive or inconclusive, PCR-based assays can replace the serological studies.…”