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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Simultaneous Detection of Different Antibody Classes in a Multiplexed Serological Test
Published on: July 14, 2023
Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in cats in Germany
M Haimerl1, A M Tenter1, K Simon2
1Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Ludwig Maximilians-Universität Munchen, Pettenkoferstraβe 9a, D-80336 Müchen.
Insights
Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana infections are common in German cats, with B. quintana showing higher prevalence in the north. Afipia felis was not detected in this cat population.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana cause human diseases like cat-scratch disease.
- Cats are reservoirs for B. henselae, but B. quintana's source is unknown.
- Understanding Bartonella prevalence in cats is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Bartonella henselae, Bartonella quintana, and Afipia felis antibodies in German cats.
- To explore potential correlations between Bartonella infections and cat demographics or behaviors.
- To analyze geographic variations in Bartonella seropositivity within Germany.
Main Methods:
- Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) used to test sera from 713 cats for Bartonella antibodies.
- Immunoblot analysis performed on IFA-positive and negative sera.
- Statistical analysis to assess correlations with cat characteristics and geographic location.
Main Results:
- 15.0% of cats had Bartonella-specific antibodies; cross-reactivity was observed.
- Afipia felis antibodies were not detected.
- B. quintana antibodies were more prevalent in northern Germany (16.8%) than southern Germany (8.0%).
- No correlation found between Bartonella infection and cat sex, age, breed, hunting behavior, or Toxoplasma infection.
Conclusions:
- Bartonella henselae and potentially B. quintana are common in German cats.
- Afipia felis is unlikely to be a significant pathogen in this population.
- Geographic differences in Bartonella prevalence exist within Germany, particularly for B. quintana.
Abstract:
Bartonella henselae and B. quintana infections in man are associated with various clinical manifestations including cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis and bacteraemia. While cats are the natural reservoir for B. henselae, the source of B. quintana is unclear. In this study, the sera of 713 cats from Germany were examined for the presence of antibodies against B. henselae, B. quintana or Afipia felis by an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Bartonella-specific antibody titres of > or =50 were found in 15.0% of the cats. There was substantial cross-reactivity among the various Bartonella antigens, although single sera showed high titres against B. henselae but not against B. quintana and vice versa. Antibodies against A. felis were not detected in any of these cats. Statistical analysis indicated that there is no correlation between Bartonella infections and the sex, age or breed of the cat or its hunting behavior. There was also no correlation between bartonella and toxoplasma infections in cats. However, whereas 16.8% of cats from northern Germany had B. quintana-specific antibodies, only 8.0% of cats from southern Germany were seropositive for B. quintana. No statistically significant difference was found for B. henselae. IFA-positive and IFA-negative sera were used for immunoblot analysis including B. henselae and B. quintana. Marked reactivity was observed with protein bands at 80, 76, 73, 65, 37, 33 and 15 kDa. The results of this study suggest that B. henselae, and possibly a B. quintana-related pathogen, but not A. felis, are common in cats in Germany, and that there are differences in the geographic distribution of bartonella infections in cats.
