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Bartonella spp. as a Possible Cause or Cofactor of Feline Endomyocarditis-Left Ventricular Endocardial Fibrosis

T A Donovan1, N Balakrishnan2, I Carvalho Barbosa3

  • 1Department of Anatomic Pathology, The Animal Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.

Journal of Comparative Pathology
|August 1, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Bartonella bacteria DNA was detected in 50% of cats with feline endomyocarditis-left ventricular endocardial fibrosis (FEMC-LVEF), suggesting a role in this feline heart disease. This study also identified Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii genotype I in cats.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

  • Endomyocarditis is a common cause of sudden cardiac death in cats, but its cause is unknown.
  • Bartonella species are known to cause various heart conditions in humans and animals.
  • Cats are reservoirs for Bartonella henselae, the cause of cat scratch disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of Bartonella species DNA in the hearts of cats with feline endomyocarditis-left ventricular endocardial fibrosis (FEMC-LVEF).
  • To compare Bartonella DNA detection rates between FEMC-LVEF, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and control cats.
  • To identify specific Bartonella species associated with feline heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • Cardiac tissue samples from 60 cats were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Bartonella DNA.
  • Multiple PCR primer sets targeting different Bartonella species were employed.
  • Positive PCR products were confirmed by DNA sequencing.
  • Fluorescence in-situ hybridization was used to visualize bacteria in cardiac tissue.

Main Results:

  • Bartonella DNA was amplified from 50% of cats with FEMC-LVEF, compared to 8.3% with HCM and 0% in controls.
  • Multiple Bartonella species were detected, with some cats coinfected.
  • This study reports the first detection of Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii genotype I in cats.
  • Bartonella bacteria were visualized within the myocardium of PCR-positive FEMC-LVEF hearts.

Conclusions:

  • Bartonella species DNA is frequently detected in cats with FEMC-LVEF, supporting their role in the disease's pathogenesis.
  • Bartonella spp. may act as a primary cause or cofactor in FEMC-LVEF.
  • Further research in diverse geographic locations is needed to confirm the association between Bartonella and feline heart disease.

Keywords:
Bartonellacatendocardial fibrosisendomyocarditis

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