Introduction
Cat scratch disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. As the name of the disease implies, it is associated with a scratch from an infected cat but is also transmitted through a cat bite and, in some instances, cat fleas (Forbes, 2007). The formation of a papule at the site of the bite or scratch is the initial symptom followed by lymphadenopathy. One of the most common causes of chronic lymphadenopathy in children and adolescents is cat scratch disease (Nervi, 2014). In the United States, there is about 24,000 cases annually of catch scratch disease; 80% of these cases appear in children (Forbes, 2007). Symptoms can be generally mild and the disease can be self-limiting in immunocompetent patients. …show more content…
Bartonella spp. typically reside in host red blood cells but can also infect the host endothelial cells and possibly bone marrow progenitor cells. Bartonella henselae is one of three species of the genus Bartonella that has a unique ability to cause angiogenic lesions by colonizing vascular endothelium. The bacterium has nine outer membrane proteins. One of the proteins has the ability to bind to endothelial cells which can then allow the bacterium to enter the cells through phagocytosis (Forbes, 2007). This outer membrane protein is identified as 43-kD, but further studies are needed to determine the exact part it plays in the development of cat scratch disease (Nervi, 2014). Although the symptoms of cat scratch disease have been known for more than a century, the specific species was not identified until this past decade after isolating it from cats and cat fleas (Hammoud, 2014). The mode of transmission of Bartonella henselae is through a scratch or a bite from an infected cat or, in rare instances, cat fleas. Cats acquire the bacteria from flea bites or flea droppings. The majority of the infected cats do not show any symptoms. Only a small percentage of cats may develop inflammation of the heart (CDC, 2014). 90% of patients with cat scratch disease give a history of recent contact with cats prior to the onset of symptoms (Braunwald, …show more content…
However, in light of increasing antibiotic resistance by many bacteria, it may not be too long before current antibiotic treatment may not help. Further studies on this complex bacteria are needed in order to find different treatment options for patients in the future.
Bibliography
Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Isselbacher KJ, Martin JB, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD (1987). Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 11th Edition. McGraw-Hill.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014, April 30). Cat-Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae infection). Retrieved December 4, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/cat-scratch.html Forbes BA, Sahm DF, Weissfeld AS (2007). Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology. 12th Edition. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier
Hammoud, K. (2014, May 30). Bartonellosis Clinical Presentation. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213169-clinical#a0218
Nervi, S. (2014, July 16). Catscratch Disease Clinical Presentation. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from
Cat scratch disease is an infection caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. As the name of the disease implies, it is associated with a scratch from an infected cat but is also transmitted through a cat bite and, in some instances, cat fleas (Forbes, 2007). The formation of a papule at the site of the bite or scratch is the initial symptom followed by lymphadenopathy. One of the most common causes of chronic lymphadenopathy in children and adolescents is cat scratch disease (Nervi, 2014). In the United States, there is about 24,000 cases annually of catch scratch disease; 80% of these cases appear in children (Forbes, 2007). Symptoms can be generally mild and the disease can be self-limiting in immunocompetent patients. …show more content…
Bartonella spp. typically reside in host red blood cells but can also infect the host endothelial cells and possibly bone marrow progenitor cells. Bartonella henselae is one of three species of the genus Bartonella that has a unique ability to cause angiogenic lesions by colonizing vascular endothelium. The bacterium has nine outer membrane proteins. One of the proteins has the ability to bind to endothelial cells which can then allow the bacterium to enter the cells through phagocytosis (Forbes, 2007). This outer membrane protein is identified as 43-kD, but further studies are needed to determine the exact part it plays in the development of cat scratch disease (Nervi, 2014). Although the symptoms of cat scratch disease have been known for more than a century, the specific species was not identified until this past decade after isolating it from cats and cat fleas (Hammoud, 2014). The mode of transmission of Bartonella henselae is through a scratch or a bite from an infected cat or, in rare instances, cat fleas. Cats acquire the bacteria from flea bites or flea droppings. The majority of the infected cats do not show any symptoms. Only a small percentage of cats may develop inflammation of the heart (CDC, 2014). 90% of patients with cat scratch disease give a history of recent contact with cats prior to the onset of symptoms (Braunwald, …show more content…
However, in light of increasing antibiotic resistance by many bacteria, it may not be too long before current antibiotic treatment may not help. Further studies on this complex bacteria are needed in order to find different treatment options for patients in the future.
Bibliography
Braunwald E, Fauci AS, Isselbacher KJ, Martin JB, Petersdorf RG, Wilson JD (1987). Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 11th Edition. McGraw-Hill.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014, April 30). Cat-Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae infection). Retrieved December 4, 2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/cat-scratch.html Forbes BA, Sahm DF, Weissfeld AS (2007). Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology. 12th Edition. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier
Hammoud, K. (2014, May 30). Bartonellosis Clinical Presentation. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213169-clinical#a0218
Nervi, S. (2014, July 16). Catscratch Disease Clinical Presentation. Retrieved December 4, 2014, from