The Korean journal of internal medicine

The Korean Association of Internal Medicine (대한내과학회)
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The seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in healthy adults in Korea

  • Kwon, Hea Yoon (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Im, Jae Hyoung (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Sun Myoung (Clinical Research Center, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Baek, Ji Hyeon (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Durey, Areum (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Shin-Goo (Department of Occupational Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Kang, Jae-Seung (Department of Microbiology, Inha University School of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Jin-Soo (Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine)
  • Received : 2015.12.19
  • Accepted : 2016.04.21
  • Published : 2017.05.01
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Abstract

Background/Aims: Cat-scratch disease (CSD), caused by Bartonella henselae is one of the most common zoonosis. However, only several cases of B. henselae infection have been reported in Korea. This study investigated the seroprevalence of B. henselae in healthy adults and related risk factors. Methods: Serum samples from 300 healthy participants were analyzed using an immunoglobulin G immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for B. henselae isolated in Korea. Surveys on the risk factors for B. henselae infection were conducted simultaneously. Results: Of the participants, 47.7% and 15.0% raised dogs and cats, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of B. henselae was 15.0% (IFA titer ${\geq}1:64$). Participants who had raised cats showed 22.2% seropositivity against B. henselae, and those with no experience with cats showed 13.7% seroprevalence (p = 0.17). Participants who had cats as pets or been scratched by cats, showed 9.8% seropositivity against B. henselae (IFA titer ${\geq}1:256$). However, those who had not raised or been scratched by a cat showed 2.0% seropositivity (p = 0.015). Conclusions: In Korea, the seroprevalence of B. henselae is higher than expected, suggesting that Bartonella infection due to B. henselae is not uncommon. Cats are proposed to play a more important role than dogs in transmission of CSD.

Keywords

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