Molecular detection and characterization of Bartonella spp. in pet cats and dogs in Shenzhen, China

Bartonella spp. are emerging vector-borne pathogens distributed worldwide that can infect humans and a wide range of mammals including small companion animals (cats and dogs). An increasing number of studies from the worldwide have reported cat and dog Bartonella infections in recently years. Cats and dogs are the primary reservoir or accidental hosts for Bartonella henselae, the main causal agent of human cat scratch disease. Since pet cat and dog sharing human living environment and have the direct and intimate contact with humans, pet cats and dogs may represent excellent epidemiological sentinels for Bartonella infection in humans. In this study, 475 blood samples were collected from pet cats and dogs in local animal hospitals located at five districts of Shenzhen City, and detected the presence of Bartonella. Bartonella DNA was detected in eight samples collected from pet cats, no positive sample was detected from pet dog samples. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the eight sequences of Bartonella identified here shared the highest identity with B. henselae. Given the intimate contact between pet animals and humans, many attentions should be paid to prevent the Bartonella infections originate from pet cats or dogs, although the Bartonella infection rate in pet cats and dogs might be rather low.