Bartonella henselae in the human environment in Poland

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the occurrence of Bartonella henselae reservoir and vectors of infection in the close surroundings of human beings in urban areas of central Poland. The study included mammals (54 dogs, 137 cats) and 102 adult Ixodes ricinus ticks removed from cats and dogs. Blood samples were drawn from each animal and cultured on chocolate agar plates and in mouse fibroblasts L-929 cell line culture. The levels of Bartonella henselae IgG antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Bartonella spp. strains were isolated from blood of 14 cats (10.2%). Isolates were identified by PCR methods as: B. henselae (18), B. clarridgeiae (1). Blood samples from dogs were consistently negative for Bartonella spp. 59 (45.0%) of 131 tested cats had B. henselae antibodies. B. henselae antibodies were present in 50% of tested dogs, although mostly (96.2%) in low titres ≤1:64. In 4.9% of Ixodes ricinus ticks examined, B. henselae DNA was detected. These data demonstrate that in the urban area of central Poland B. henselae occurs in environmental sources, both in cats and dogs (reservoir) and ticks (possible vector).