Feline Bartonella

It is estimated that approximately 33% of healthy cats in Virginia are infected with Bartonella. Bartonella can be transmitted by infected fleas and ticks. The bacteria can then infect people through cat scratches, bites, and even contact with fur! Yikes!
Cats who were strays, live in a multi cat household, originally came from a shelter, or go outside often are more likely to come in contact with fleas and ticks, and therefore are more likely to become infected with Bartonella. Bartonella causes inflammatory reactions in tissues throughout the animal’s body. These tissues include: oral and respiratory mucosa, ocular tissues, the GI tissues, skin, and organs such as liver, spleen and lymph nodes. It is thought that Bartonella is the cause of about 40-50% of the following conditions in pet kitties:
-Oral diseases (gingivitis, stomatitis, oral ulcers)
-Respiratory diseases (upper respiratory disease, rhinitis, sinusitis)
-Ocular diseases (conjunctivitis, uveitis, chorioretinitis, corneal ulcers, keratitis)
-Intestinal diseases (inflammatory bowel disease, chronic diarrhea, chronic vomiting)
-Other diseases such as enlarged lymph nodes, fever of unknown origin, skin diseases such as papules and dermatitis, and heart disease such as valvular disease
Bartonella, transmitted though cats, is infamous for the “cat scratch fever” disease in people, but it can actually cause around 22 human diseases. Other known Bartonella diseases in humans are: bacillary angiomatosis & peliosis, febrile bacteremia, heart diseases, eye diseases, neurological disorders, musculoskeletal diseases, skin diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, mononucleosis-like syndrome, pulmonary infiltrates, lymphadenopathy and co-infection with Lyme disease.
We strongly recommend testing every new feline, kitten or adult, being introduced into your household for Bartonella. If a test shows a positive result, antibiotic therapy is effective for most cats.