Etiologic agent = Bartonella henselae
As a clinical entity in humans, cat scratch disease (CSD) has
been recognized since the early 1900's. However, identification
of the etiologic agent has only recently been confirmed.
- In the late 1980's, a curved rod was identified in CSD lesions
by silver staining, and this was the first hint to the etiology
of CSD.
- Previously, everything from herpesviruses to Chlamydia
and Pasteurella had been suggested as causes.
- Initial identification of this silver-staining agent as Afipia
felis did not hold up in additional cases, either serologically
or by bacterial culture.
- In 1992, Bartonella henselae was isolated from and
identified by PCR in CSD lesions.
- Previously classified as Rochalimaea henselae, these
are slightly curved, gram (-) rods.
- The Bartonella, Rochalimaea and Afipia
genera are all related phylogenetically to Rickettsia
and Ehrlichia.
With this etiologic understanding, we can now link CSD to other
diseases of humans caused by related Bartonella spp., and
we can better understand the epidemiological role of cats in these
diseases.
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