Bartonella henselae DNA in Seronegative Patients with Cat-Scratch Disease

Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 May;24(5):924-925. doi: 10.3201/eid2405.152033.

Abstract

We used real-time PCR to detect Bartonella henselae DNA in 7.9% (5/63) of blood specimens from seronegative patients in Japan suspected of having cat-scratch disease. The combined use of serologic tests and real-time PCR to analyze blood specimens is recommended for the prompt, noninvasive laboratory diagnosis of cat-scratch disease.

Keywords: Bartonella henselae; Cat-scratch disease; Japan; bacteria; indirect fluorescence antibody assay; peripheral blood; real-time PCR; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Bartonella henselae / genetics
  • Bartonella henselae / isolation & purification*
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / diagnosis*
  • Cat-Scratch Disease / microbiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA, Bacterial / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Serologic Tests

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • DNA, Bacterial