Prevalence of Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae, and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii in pet cats from four provincial communities in Thailand

Abstract

Bartonella species are Gram-negative alpha proteobacteria and intracellular parasites of erythrocytes, endothelial and dendritic cells. Many are zoonotic pathogens of various mammalian reservoir hosts and are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods. Recently, there have been several reports indicating that cats are important reservoir hosts for Bartonella pathogens, including those that cause cat scratch disease affecting humans in many countries including in Thailand. To assess more completely the role of cats as reservoir hosts for Bartonella pathogens in Thailand, 139 blood samples were collected from companion cats from a single community in each of four provinces (Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Nakhon Ratchasima) from January 2014 to January 2015. The blood samples were assessed for the presence and identification of Bartonella spp. by molecular methods. In addition, various potential risk factors were assessed. Overall, 13 (9.4%) pet cats were found to be infected with Bartonella species including Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii. This is the first evidence of the discovery of Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii DNA in pet cats in Asia. Further studies of Bartonella spp. prevalence in other locations in Thailand should be investigated.