Bartonellosis
Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella) Guide: Here you'll find in-depth information on Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella) including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
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Bartonellosis is a disease caused by bacteria in the genus Bartonella. When cats develop Bartonellosis as a result of Bartonella infection, this condition is known as Feline Bartonellosis or Feline Bartonella. Cats can transmit these bacteria to people through scratches and sometimes bites, and it can cause a condition in people known as cat scratch fever.Cats can carry up to five different types of Bartonella bacteria, and the disease is transmitted between cats through fleas
Cats infected with Bartonellosis usually obtain the infection through flea and tick bites from fleas and ticks that are carrying the Bartonella bacteria. While many cats carry the bacteria without showing any symptoms, some cats infected with the bacteria can develop Feline Bartonellosis disease.As Feline Bartonellosis is a blood borne disease, it is transferred from cat to cat most often through flea and tick bites. In some cases, mutual injuries from cat fights where blood
In most cases symptoms of Feline Bartonellosis are very vague, and the symptoms can mimic many other types of disorders. This disease can affect multiple systems in the cat’s body, and inflammatory effects are the most common types of symptoms associated with Feline Bartonellosis.As the Bartonella bacteria invade red blood cells, the symptoms may appear in multiple areas of the cat’s body all at once. The oral and digestive systems may become swollen and infected
Blood tests, and blood cultures, can be used to diagnose Feline Bartonellosis. If a cat has tested positive for this disease, additional tests may be performed to determine if the cat’s organs or other systems have been adversely affected by the disease and if so by how much.Tests which are used to determine Feline Bartonellosis infection in cats include the Western Blot, the IFA, the ELISA, and blood cultures. All of the blood tests, except
Treating Bartonellosis in cats relies upon antibiotic therapies, follow up tests to ensure the therapies were successful, and methods to prevent reinfection.Cats that carry the Bartonella bacteria who have no symptoms of effects from the disease do not require treatment. Cats that develop the Feline Bartonellosis disease as a result of Bartonella bacteria infection must be treated or the disease can be fatal.Currently Feline Bartonellosis is now recognized as a condition which can cause symptoms