Bartonella henselae is a gram-negative bacillus. It is an aerobic organism that is approximately one micrometer in length. The optimum growing conditions for B. henselae is in blood with a high concentration of carbon dioxide. It was discovered by two French medical teams in the early 1950s.
This microorganism is so interesting to me because it causes cat scratch fever. The bacteria are found in the bloodstreams of cats. As a cat ages, it creates antibodies that fight the bacteria. Cats can be tested for levels of these antibodies to see if they have ever carried Bartonella henselae. The actual bacteria are found most often in kittens, as adult cats create the antibodies. It is spread from animal to animal by fleas. Because it is spread by fleas, the number of cases differs depending on the climate. In a very cold climate where it would be difficult for fleas to grow, there is a low occurrence of the antibodies in adult cats’ bloodstreams.
The funny thing is that you can’t even tell if your cat has it until it scratches you and you come down with cat scratch fever. It is transferred to humans when the saliva under the claws enters our bodies. Three to ten days later, sores begin to appear around the area. People may come down with a fever or a severe headache also. About two weeks after the initial scratch, the lymph nodes near the scratch become swollen. Most people just wait for it to pass, but antibiotics can be used to help recovery along.
As a cat-owner and cat-lover, I would hate to see someone become confused about this bacterium and take steps to destroy a family pet when there is no need. Older cats that develop antibodies cannot spread the disease to humans. It mainly occurs in children and teens. If it is found that your cat does indeed carry this bacterium, just be careful around it for a while. Usually cats scratch for a reason, so don’t provoke your kitty. As long as people remain informed on what it is and how it works, humans and cats can live in harmony as they have for years.
Sources
• Cat Scratch Disease, http://www.astdhpphe.org
• Cat Scratch Disease, www.antropozoonosi.it/
• Cat Scratch Disease, http://www.chclibrary.org/
• Cat Scratch Disease, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
*Disclaimer - This report was written by a student participaring in a microbiology course at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. The accuracy of the contents of this report is not guaranteed and it is recommended that you seek additional sources of information to verify the contents.
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