[Cat scratch disease and associated infections]

Cat scratch disease (CSD) was first described in France by Debré et al. in 1950, yet the causative bacterial agent of CSD remained obscure until 1992, when Bartonella (formerly Rochalimaea) henselae was implicated in CSD by serological and microbiologic studies. B. henselae had been linked initially to bacillary angiomatosis (BA), but also bacillary peliosis, relapsing bacteremia and endocarditis. Cats are healthy carriers of B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae, and can be bacteremic for months to years. Cat to cat transmission of the organism involves the cat flea in absence of direct contact transmission. Present knowledge on the etiology, clinical features and epidemiological characteristics of cat scratch disease/bacillary angiomatosis are presented.