Veterinary Guidance for Bartonellosis

Key points

  • Domestic pets, especially cats, are susceptible to infection with various species of Bartonella and can play a role in human infection.
  • Bartonella henselae infection is common in cats worldwide, including in healthy cats without any symptoms.
  • Antibiotic treatment is recommended only for pets that have clinical symptoms.
A person giving liquid oral antibiotics to a cat.

Overview

Domestic pets are susceptible to infection with various species of Bartonella and can play a role in human infection.

Bartonella henselae bacteremia has been documented in 30–40% of domestic and adopted shelter cats. Kittens and young cats less than 2 years old have a higher likelihood of infection than older cats.

Rates of seropositivity for B. henselae in cats vary by region, with higher rates in the Southeast, Hawaii, coastal California, and the Pacific Northwest.

Dogs can also carry B. henselae and other Bartonella species. However, it is not known whether dogs can transmit B. henselae to humans and cause an infection. Bartonella henselae is more likely to cause clinical symptoms in dogs compared to cats.

In addition to dogs and cats, numerous domestic and wild animals, including bovine, canine, human, and rodent species can serve as reservoir hosts for various Bartonella species.

Clinical presentation

Cats

Bartonella henselae infections in cats, also known as feline bartonellosis, is usually asymptomatic but may occasionally cause a brief, self-limiting febrile illness that lasts for 2–3 days.

More rarely, feline bartonellosis can cause vomiting, lethargy, red eyes, swollen lymph nodes, and/or decreased appetite. Bacteremia can persist for months with clinical signs appearing when the cat is under stress caused by surgery, trauma, or a concurrent disease.

A veterinarian holds a kitten on a table.
Kittens and cats with signs and symptoms of bartonellosis should be examined and tested.

Dogs

Bartonellosis in dogs can present as a wide range of manifestations, including fever, endocarditis and myocarditis, granulomatous lymphadenitis, cardiac arrhythmias, granulomatous rhinitis, and epistaxis. In both humans and dogs, Bartonella-associated endocarditis usually involves the aortic valve.

Diagnosis

Bartonella infections in symptomatic pets can be identified through culture or molecular testing including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the blood or tissues such as lymph node or heart valve (in cases of endocarditis). Serologic testing can diagnose prior Bartonella exposure but is not useful as a means of identifying animals that pose an infection risk to their owners or of identifying animals that require treatment.

Treatment

The effectiveness of antibiotics to completely eradicate B. henselae infection from dogs or cats has not been established. Given the long duration of treatment necessary to clear the bacteremia and the concern for development of antimicrobial resistance, treatment is recommended only for pets that have clinical symptoms.

Prevention and control

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Dog owner applying topical flea prevention product.
Dog owners can apply a topical flea prevention product to protect their pet from fleas.
  • Dogs should be placed on an effective oral or topical flea prevention product such as fipronil, methoprene, imidocloprid, or permethrin to protect them from flea and tick infestations.
  • Cats should also be placed on flea prevention products, however, permethrin should never be used on cats. Other flea prevention products are safe when used as directed.
  • Keeping pet cats indoors can help prevent Bartonella infection by reducing risk of flea infestation and contact time with feral cats.
  • No vaccines are currently available for cats or dogs against Bartonella.

Learn how to prevent bartonellosis in people.

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)