Cat Scratch Disease News and Research

RSS

Cat scratch disease (CSD), also known as subacute regional lymphadenitis or cat scratch fever, is a common bacterial infection caused by Bartonellahenselae. As one may deduce, infected cats are disease vectors and transmit the bacteria, which is found in their saliva via bites or scratches. It is estimated that up to 50 percent of cats may be carriers of the microorganism responsible for CSD and these cats may show no signs of infection.

Antibodies can prevent surface proteins of bacteria from entering host cells

Using bacteria of the Bartonella henselae species, researchers from Goethe University, Frankfurt University Hospital, the Paul Ehrlich Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines in Langen, and the University of Oslo demonstrated for the first time that antibodies can prevent certain surface proteins of bacterial pathogens from entering host cells.

19 Oct 2022

Study demonstrates the potency of herbal medicines against Bartonella henselae

Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the U.S., today announced the publication of new data showing that herbal medicines have potent activity in test tubes compared to pharmaceuticals commonly-prescribed for the treatment of Bartonella henselae, a bacterium believed to be carried by ticks and the cause of cat scratch fever.

5 Aug 2021

Pilot study finds Bartonella infection in the blood of people with schizophrenia

A pilot study from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found evidence of Bartonella infection in the blood of people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.

23 Mar 2021

People with Bartonella infection exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms, skin lesions

Bartonella bacteria are increasingly recognized as an emerging infectious disease threat. A new study by North Carolina State University researchers has found additional instances of Bartonella infection in humans who exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms, a subset of whom also had skin lesions.

8 Dec 2020

Study shows how parasitic bacteria cause lesions in the skin and internal organs

Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are parasites that can be transmitted to humans via insect bites and animal scratches, resulting in an infection known as "bartonellosis."

16 Jul 2020

Antibiotic resistance is transferring from humans to animals

Resistance to antibiotics could be moving from humans to animals, research by a Clemson University professor has shown. The research details results that demonstrate reverse zoonosis, a process by which humans infect other species of animal with diseases.

18 Sep 2019

New case study describes adolescent patient with rapid-onset schizophrenia and Bartonella infection

In a new case study, researchers at North Carolina State University describe an adolescent human patient diagnosed with rapid onset schizophrenia who was found instead to have a Bartonella henselae infection.

19 Mar 2019

Super fleas with oversized penises all set to invade Britain !

According to scientists, super fleas with penises that are two and half times their size, are all set to invade the British homes this soggy summer and bring with them a host of diseases. They warn that the damp weather this August following a hot spring has led to the successful breeding of these bugs.

13 Aug 2017

Preventing zoonotic diseases from pets to people: an interview with Dr Monique Éloit, OIE Director General

Zoonotic diseases are diseases or infections which are naturally transmissible from animals to humans, as defined in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

13 Jul 2016

Bartonella bacterium may also play a role in human arthritis

A bacterium historically associated with cat scratch fever and transmitted predominately by fleas may also play a role in human rheumatoid illnesses such as arthritis, according to new research from North Carolina State University.

24 Apr 2012

VIDAS TOXO IgG Avidity assay to test for recent Toxoplasma gondii infection receives FDA clearance

On May 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the first test to help determine whether a pregnant woman or a person with swollen lymph nodes testing positive for toxoplasmosis, sometimes known as cat scratch disease, developed the infection within the past four months.

20 May 2011

Bacteria transmitted by fleas-and potentially ticks-can be passed to babies by mother: Researcher

A North Carolina State University researcher has discovered that bacteria transmitted by fleas-and potentially ticks-can be passed to human babies by the mother, causing chronic infections and raising the possibility of bacterially induced birth defects.

4 May 2010

Cat scratch disease management in children

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection that typically causes swelling of the lymph nodes.

20 Sep 2007

New bacterium discovered, Bartonella rochalimae

A close cousin of the bacterium that debilitated thousands of World War I soldiers has been isolated at UCSF from a patient who had been on an international vacation.

8 Jun 2007