Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae in southern Africa--evidence for infections in domestic cats and implications for veterinarians.

Substantial evidence has recently accumulated showing domestic cats to be the principal reservoirs of Bartonella henselae, the aetiological agent of human diseases including cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis and a febrile bacteraemia syndrome. To determine the prevalence of antibodies reactive with Bartonella henselae in cats from southern Africa, indirect fluorescent antibody assays were carried out on feline sera from South Africa and Zimbabwe. Overall, 23% (39/171) of cats had antibody titres > or = 1/64, with cats from Zimbabwe (24%; 28/119) having higher seroprevalences than those from South Africa (21%; 11/52) although this difference was not statistically significant. The implications of these findings for veterinarians in southern Africa are discussed.