Epidemiological Analysis of Cat Scratch Disease in Veterinary Associated Population, Domestic/Stray Cat Population, and Cat Scratch Disease Suspected Patients in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Lee, Chiu-Ching, 李秋靜
• Other Authors: Pan, Ming-Jeng
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2003
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/88595991012835598464

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 獸醫學研究所 === 91 === In order to know the epidemiological profile and associated risk factors of cat scratch disease (CSD) in Taiwan, we proceeded the epidemiological surveys in veterinary professional workers, domestic cats and carried out the epidemiological data analyses of CSD suspected patients in Taiwan. A total of 195 whole blood samples and 100 sera were collected from 295 veterinary professional workers in 2002. One hundred and thirty-one whole blood samples were collected from domestic cats in Taipei and Tainan area, and the whole blood or serum specimens of 155 CSD suspected patients were submitted to our laboratory to perform the antibody examination and antigen detection between March 2001 and May 2003. Antibodies against B. henselae were detected with indirect immunoflourescence antibody test (IFA), and Bartonella bacteremia was evaluated by whole blood cultivation on chocolate agar or Bartonella-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Five of 295 (1.7%) veterinary related workers were seropositive to B. henselae. However, we didn’t identify the Bartonella bacteremia in this population. The veterinarians living in eastern area are more likely tended to B. henselae seropositive. The seroprevalence of B. henselae among domestic cat population was 23.7% (31/131). Twenty-seven cats (20.6%) were Bartonella bacteremic, of which 7 cats (25.9%) were infected with B. henselae type I only, 3 cats were infected with B. henselae type II only, and 12 cats (44.4%) were concurrently bacteremic with both B. henselae type I and II. One cat (3.7%) was co-infected with B. clarridgeiae and B. henselae type II, and two isolates were not able to be classified by 16S rRNA genotype-specific primers. Risk factors associated with bacteremia in cats including flea infestation and being holding in shelters. Risk factors associated with seropositivity were paralleled those for bacteremia. However, seropositive cats were 4.44 times more likely tended to be bacteremia than seronegative cats (OR=4.44, 95% CI=1.79, 11.63). Regarding epidemiological data analysis in CSD suspected patients, 37.7% (58/154) of patients were seropositive to B. henselae, and none was identified to be Bartonella bacteremic neither by culture nor by PCR assay. Most of the patients were living in northern area of Taiwan, and referring from medical centers. However, no risk factor was identified in CSD suspected patients. This is the first report demonstrated the epidemiological features about B. henselae infection in domestic cat and human population in Taiwan.