Serological and molecular evidence of Bartonella henselae in cats from Luanda city, Angola

Abstract

A total of 100 domestic cats from Luanda (Angola)were tested for the presence of antibodies against Bartonella henselae and spotted fever group of Rickettsia (SFGR)using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Molecular screening targeting the riboflavin synthase (ribC)gene for Bartonella and outer membrane protein B (ompB)gene for Rickettsia, using conventional PCR and sequencing was also performed in cat´s blood samples. Sixty-six percent of the cats from Luanda had IgG antibodies against Bartonella species but none of them had antibodies against SFGR. Of the total seroreactive cats for Bartonella henselae, 4.5% had an IgG titre of 64 (cut-off), 60.6% a titre of 128, 28.8% a titre of 256 and 6.1% a titre of 512. A statistically significant association was observed between seropositivity for Bartonella henselae and the lack of access to prophylaxis against ectoparasites (p = 0.018). Molecular detection and further sequence analysis of the positive amplicons allowed identification of Bartonella henselae in a 2-year old male cat. To the best of our knowledge this study confirms for the first time, the presence of Bartonela henselae circulating in domestic cats from Luanda. This fact call the attention for the possible cases of cat-scratch disease in humans.