In this study, we examine prevalences of three infectious pathogens with different transmission modes (Bartonella henselae, hemoplasma, and Toxoplasma gondii) in feral cats from urban and rural habitats. Infection status of the three pathogens in blood samples (n = 117) was determined through molecular or serological diagnostic methods. Overall prevalence of hemoplasma, Toxoplasma gondii, and Bartonella henselae was 47.9%, 50%, and 35.7%, respectively. Comparing the two habitats, only seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae was significantly higher in urban cats. Based on the results, we discuss how pathogens with distinct transmission modes may show different prevalence between urban and rural habitat types.
Animals ; Bartonella henselae ; Cats* ; Ecosystem ; Korea* ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma

In this study, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii and Bartonella (B.) henselae infection among stray cats in Daejeon City, Korea was surveyed. A total of seven samples were positive (7/118, 5.93%) for T. gondii including three samples from female cats (3/58, 5.2%) and four samples from male cats (4/60, 6.7%). There was no significant difference between the genders. A total 22 samples (22/118, 18.6%) were positive for B. henselae; nine were from females and 13 were from males. There was no significant difference between genders. Nineteen samples had a titer of 1 : 50, two samples had a titer of 1 : 100, and one sample had a titer of 1 : 200. The present study is the first to use serological tests to analyze B. henselae prevalence among stray cats in Korea.
Animals ; Bartonella henselae ; Bartonella* ; Cats* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Serologic Tests ; Toxoplasma*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of Bartonella henselae DNA, which is known as an etiologic agent of lymphadenitis, in fleas from dogs. METHODS: The Bartonella henselae infection was investigated in 42 fleas from 22 dogs in Korea. By using seminested PCR targeting pap31 gene, B. henselae DNA was amplified from fleas. RESULTS: B. henselae DNA was detected in seven fleas (7 of 42 fleas, 16.7 percent) from four dogs (4 of 22 dogs, 18.2 percent). To confirm these findings, we performed sequencing and identified the seven PCR products. Sequence analysis revealed that six sequences belonged to Huston-1 genogroup and one sequence to Marseille genogroup. CONCLUSION: These results may suggest that dogs could be an important source of B. henselae infection in children in Korea. This is the first report about the detection of B. henselae in fleas from dogs in Korea.
Animals ; Bartonella henselae* ; Bartonella* ; Child ; DNA* ; Dogs* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea* ; Lymphadenitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis ; Siphonaptera*

OBJECTIVETo develop a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting Bartonella henselae.

METHODSAccording to the 16S-23S rRNA intervening sequences (IVS) specific for B. henselae, one pair of primers and one TaqMan-MGB probe were designed. A quantitative real-time PCR was developed with the primers, the probe, and the IVS, a standard template, in DNA sequence detection system (ABI 7900HT).

RESULTSThe standard curve was established with the standard template and the relationship between the value of threshold cycle (Ct) and the DNA copy number was linear (r = 0.997). The sensitivity of this quantitative real-time PCR was about 1000 times higher than that of a common PCR used to detect homologous DNA. By this quantitative real-time PCR, the DNA sample of B. henselae was positively detected but not from other rickettsial or bacterial DNA samples. The variation coefficients of intra- and inter-assay reproducibility were 0.2%-1.9%. Using the real-time quantitative PCR to detect samples from mice that were experimentally infected with B. henselae, the small amount of B. henselae DNA was detected in blood samples on days 2, 3, and 5 and large amount of B. henselae DNA was detected in spleen samples on days 1 and 2 after infection.

CONCLUSIONResults from our study suggested that this quantitative real-time PCR was highly specific, sensitive and with good repeatability for detection of B. henselae. It seemed quite useful for rapid detection of tiny DNA of B. henselae in various samples and laboratory diagnosis of bartonellosis caused by B. henselae.

Animals ; Bartonella Infections ; diagnosis ; Bartonella henselae ; genetics ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Mice ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We report a case of cat scratch disease (CSD) caused by Bartonella henselae in a 14-year-old boy who developed lymphadenopathy in the right cervical area, after a raising canine pet for 10 months. The cervical lymphadenopathy persisted for 14 days. Immunofluorescent antibody testing for B. henselae with the patient's serum was 1: 64 positive. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using the patient's lymph node aspirates for B. henselae DNA was also positive. This is the first case of cat scratch disease confirmed by PCR for B. henselae DNA in children.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Bartonella henselae* ; Bartonella* ; Cat-Scratch Disease* ; Cats* ; Child ; DNA* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cat-scratch disease (CSD), caused by Bartonella henselae is one of the most common zoonosis. However, only several cases of B. henselae infection have been reported in Korea. This study investigated the seroprevalence of B. henselae in healthy adults and related risk factors. METHODS: Serum samples from 300 healthy participants were analyzed using an immunoglobulin G immunof luorescence assay (IFA) for B. henselae isolated in Korea. Surveys on the risk factors for B. henselae infection were conducted simultaneously. RESULTS: Of the participants, 47.7% and 15.0% raised dogs and cats, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of B. henselae was 15.0% (IFA titer ≥ 1:64). Participants who had raised cats showed 22.2% seropositivity against B. henselae, and those with no experience with cats showed 13.7% seroprevalence (p = 0.17). Participants who had cats as pets or been scratched by cats, showed 9.8% seropositivity against B. henselae (IFA titer ≥ 1:256). However, those who had not raised or been scratched by a cat showed 2.0% seropositivity (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, the seroprevalence of B. henselae is higher than expected, suggesting that Bartonella infection due to B. henselae is not uncommon. Cats are proposed to play a more important role than dogs in transmission of CSD.
Adult* ; Animals ; Bartonella henselae* ; Bartonella Infections ; Bartonella* ; Cat-Scratch Disease ; Cats ; Dogs ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea* ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cat-scratch disease (CSD), caused by Bartonella henselae is one of the most common zoonosis. However, only several cases of B. henselae infection have been reported in Korea. This study investigated the seroprevalence of B. henselae in healthy adults and related risk factors. METHODS: Serum samples from 300 healthy participants were analyzed using an immunoglobulin G immunof luorescence assay (IFA) for B. henselae isolated in Korea. Surveys on the risk factors for B. henselae infection were conducted simultaneously. RESULTS: Of the participants, 47.7% and 15.0% raised dogs and cats, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of B. henselae was 15.0% (IFA titer ≥ 1:64). Participants who had raised cats showed 22.2% seropositivity against B. henselae, and those with no experience with cats showed 13.7% seroprevalence (p = 0.17). Participants who had cats as pets or been scratched by cats, showed 9.8% seropositivity against B. henselae (IFA titer ≥ 1:256). However, those who had not raised or been scratched by a cat showed 2.0% seropositivity (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, the seroprevalence of B. henselae is higher than expected, suggesting that Bartonella infection due to B. henselae is not uncommon. Cats are proposed to play a more important role than dogs in transmission of CSD.
Adult* ; Animals ; Bartonella henselae* ; Bartonella Infections ; Bartonella* ; Cat-Scratch Disease ; Cats ; Dogs ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea* ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

Cat-scratch disease is a self-limited zoonotic disease characterized by regional lymphadenopathy and fever. It is caused by Bartonella henselae, less frequently by B. clarridgeiae, and is transmitted to humans by scratches or bites from cats and dogs. Up to now, only a handful of cases have been reported in Korea. However, the number of pet cats and dogs is increasing in Korea and thus more frequent human contact with cats and dogs is expected. We present a case of cat-scratch disease diagnosed by indirect immunofluorescence assay and analysis of polymerase chain reaction results, and twenty a literature review of Bartonella infections in humans and animals in Korea.
Animals ; Bartonella ; Bartonella henselae ; Bartonella Infections ; Bites and Stings ; Cat-Scratch Disease ; Cats ; Dogs ; Fever ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo compare the protein difference between B. henselae Houston and B. henselae Marseille by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

METHODProtein samples were prepared by vorterx, ultrasonic treatment, and centrifugation. Protein concentrations were determined by Bradford method. Protein difference was compared by the first IEF and the second SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSProtein concentrations in samples of Bartonella henselae Houston and Bartonella henselae Marseille were 2.117 microg/microL and 2.200 microg/microL respectively. Sample protein of 40 microg for IPG strips loading was perfect. The results of 2-DE in pH 4 to 7 IPG strips showed that the total protein spots of Bartonella henselae Houston and Bartonella henselae Marseille were 375 and 379 respectively, 95% of the spots were the same between the two strains of Bartonella henselae.

CONCLUSIONThe procedure of 2-DE may prove successful for the proteomic analysis of Bartonella henselae. Bartonella henselae Houston and Bartonella henselae Marseille are different genotypes.

Bacterial Proteins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Bartonella henselae ; classification ; genetics ; metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Genotype ; Proteomics

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Gram-negative bacteria constitute the first line of defense protecting cells against environmental stresses including chemical, biophysical, and biological attacks. Although the 43-kDa OMP (OMP43) is major porin protein among Bartonella henselae-derived OMPs, its function remains unreported. In this study, OMP43-deficient mutant B. henselae (Δomp43) was generated to investigate OMP43 function. Interestingly, Δomp43 exhibited weaker proliferative ability than that of wild-type (WT) B. henselae. To study the differences in proteomic expression between WT and Δomp43, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis-based proteomic analysis was performed. Based on Clusters of Orthologus Groups functional assignments, 12 proteins were associated with metabolism, 7 proteins associated with information storage and processing, and 3 proteins associated with cellular processing and signaling. By semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, increases in tldD, efp, ntrX, pdhA, purB, and ATPA mRNA expression and decreases in Rho and yfeA mRNA expression were confirmed in Δomp43. In conclusion, this is the first report showing that a loss of OMP43 expression in B. henselae leads to retarded proliferation. Furthermore, our proteomic data provide useful information for the further investigation of mechanisms related to the growth of B. henselae.
Bartonella henselae ; Bartonella ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Membrane Proteins ; Membranes ; Metabolism ; Proteomics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger