Exotic Pets Harbor Bartonella spp.

Bartonellae were isolated from the blood of 26% of exotic mammals imported into Japan for sale as pets.

Cats are the natural reservoir for Bartonella henselae, the cause of cat-scratch disease. Can other pets harbor species of Bartonella that are potentially pathogenic for humans? To find out, investigators in Japan tested blood from 546 exotic small mammals imported as pets into Japan from North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle and Near East. The animals were purchased from June 2004 through October 2007 from trading companies; 367 had been captured in the wild, and 179 had been bred in captivity.

Blood samples were collected from the animals, plated, and incubated. Colonies that resembled bartonellae were further characterized by DNA extraction, sequencing of PCR products, and phylogenetic analysis.

Bartonellae were isolated from 142 of …

Reviewing Author

Mary E.Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E.Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine