This document summarizes information about feline bartonellosis and its zoonotic potential. It discusses how 14 Bartonella species can be transmitted from cats to humans, primarily through flea feces or scratches. Clinical signs in humans range from self-limiting lymphadenopathy to more severe infections in immunocompromised individuals. Diagnosis involves serology, culture, or molecular methods from blood or tissue samples. Preventive measures include flea control in cats and avoiding contact with cat scratches/bites for humans. The research project aims to study Bartonella prevalence in cats and children in Greece and identify prevention strategies to protect public health.

1. FELINE BARTONELLOSIS
AND ITS ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL
Athanasiou Labrini1, Chatzis Manolis1, Tsokana Constantina1, Chatzopoulos Dimitrios1, Kantere
Maria1, Kontou Ioanna2, Garoufi Anastasia2, Papaevangelou Vassiliki2, Kontos Vasilios3, Billinis
Charalambos1, Spyrou Vassiliki4
1Faculty
of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
2Faculty
3National
of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
4Technological
and Educational Institute of Larissa, Larissa, Greece

2. Bartonella spp - An introduction
Bartonella spp
14 species with zoonotic potential
Aerobic
Facultative
intracellular
Gram-bacteria
B. henselae
B. clarridgeiae
B. koehlerae
B. quintana
B. bovis
B. vinsonii
subsp. berkhoffii
Isolated from cats

3. Transmission and Pathogenesis
Arthropods
Ctenocephalides felis
Ixodes spp
Stomoxys
Haematobia
• B. henselae
Ctenocephalides felis
• B. clarridgeiae
• B. koehlerae (possibly)
Various
Bartonella
species

4. Transmission and Pathogenesis
Cat exposure to flea feces
saliva of the flea ✗
bites among cats ✗
(eve of bacterium <9 days)
Cuts and wounds Skin inoculation
spleen
liver
✓
✓
Entering in the host
Prolonged presence in blood
circulation
RBC
+
Endothelial cells of blood vessels
Intracellular localization
•chronic bacteremia
•antimicrobial resistance

5. Diagnosis of ectoparatisoses from fleasCats
1. Visible evidence of flea feces in a cat’s fur
2. Collection by combing the fur x 5 min
3. Wet paper towel
Flea
Flea feces
Turns into reddish brown

6. Diagnosis - Serology
Serology
positive
Exposure to pathogen
negative
Cannot exclude
infection
Cannot
• Prove active infection and disease
• Attribute symptoms to pathogen
IFAT-B.henselae
Cannot identify the responsible species of Bartonella

7. Diagnosis - Serology
Serological methods
Specificity: 39-46%
Sensitivity: 89-97%
False negative results
More reliable to exclude rather than to confirm infection

8. Diagnosis - Culture
Samples: peripheral blood + aqueous humor
Blood culture The most reliable for active infection confirmation
Disadvantages:
• False negative Remissions
• Long incubation period (6-8 weeks)
• > 1 for successful isolation
• Risk of cross-contamination

9. Diagnosis - Molecular methods
Samples: peripheral blood, aqueous fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, liver
and spleen
Advantages:
•Species specific identification
Disadvantages:
False negative
•More rapid compared to culture
•qPCR + nested PCR 
more specific and sensitive
•qPCR  quantitative method
Degradation of the
genetic material
•Maintenance conditions
•Transportation conditions

10. The Zoonotic Potential of Bartonellosis
Cat scratch disease : Zoonosis with worldwide distribution due to
Bartonella henselae
Cat claws carrying infected flea feces
Transmission by scratches
Flea bites
Person to person
✗
✗

11. The Zoonotic Potential of Bartonellosis
Medical history : Contact with cats - Usual scratches
Clinical picture :
Immunocompromised  Spread and detection in liver and spleen
Immunocompetent  Self-limiting regional lymphadenopathy
+ low fever
B.koehlerae  isolated in a case of endocarditis
B.clarridgeiae antibodies in blood of a person with chest abscess

12. The Zoonotic Potential of Bartonellosis
Suspicion of infection with B. henselae :
•regional lymphadenopathy or fever of unknown origin
•contact with cat
• presence of papules or blisters
at the site of inoculation
appears 3 to 10 days after inoculation and
remains for 1 to 3 weeks

13. Added Value to One Health Approach
Man animal close contact
Risk of zoonoses transmission
Urban areas
Rural areas
•Poor personal hygiene
•Limited prevention measures against cat
pathogens

14. Added Value to One Health Approach
Limited share of knowledge in the field of zoonoses
medical doctors + veterinarians + biologists
1) Diagnostic methods  prevention and treatment
2) Study of disease and pathogenesis(studies in animals)
•global ecology
•interspecies transmission events and pathogens evolution
3) Similar clinical manifestations with severe diseases 
rapid diagnosis - great importance

15. Conclusions
Treatable medical problem
BUT similarity to other life-threatening diseases
e.g. Tularemia ,Tuberculosis, Brucellosis
Value of companion animals for immunocompromised people
e.g. prevalence of depression among these owners
BUT need for protection of their health and well-being
KEY ROLE
PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID TRANSMISSION

16. Conclusions
Preventive Measures-Humans
• Avoiding contact with young
kittens and aggressive cats
(more likely to scratch and bite)
•Avoiding being licked by cats
when open wounds exist
•Thorough cleaning and
disinfection of any cat scratch
or bite

17. Conclusions
Preventive Measures-Cats
• Regular nail trimming (especially
cats living in and outside the home)
• Regular flea control in cats
(topical application of 10% imidacloprid and
1% moxidectin on the skin every month
throughout the whole year)
• Cats infested by fleas or cats with no
regular flea control should not be used
as blood donors

18. Our project –
Research funding program THALES
Multidisciplinary Investigation and Identification of
Rota-viruses, Bartonella henselae and Leishmania
infantum in children and animal hosts using novel
technologies. Importance for Public Health.

19. Objectives of our Project Research funding program THALES
1. Collection of strains
2. Molecular characterization of human and host strains
3. Determination of prevention/control measures for Public Health
protection via risk assessment
4. Dissemination of acquired knowledge

20. Epizootiological data – Greece
Our work so far….
Epizootiological data – Greece
•22.17% (domestic cats-archived samples) - IFAT (cut-off value 1/100)
(Kontos, 2009 – personal communication)
Our work so far..
•7% (healthy cats) - IFAT (cut-off value 1/100)
•5 children with compatible clinical picture
(research funding program THALES, during the last 18 months
of the project)

21. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek
national funds through the Operational Program "Education and Lifelong Learning" of the National
Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) - Research Funding Program: THALES. Investing in knowledge
society through the European Social Fund.