บาร์โทเนลลา (โรคไข้แมวข่วน)

Key Facts

• Caused by Bartonella henselae — spread by fleas, not directly cat-to-cat
• Cats get flea dirt (infected flea feces) in claws, then scratch people
• Human disease: papule at scratch site, lymph node swelling, fever — usually self-resolving
• Immunocompromised humans at risk for serious complications (encephalitis, heart valve infection)
• Most infected cats show no clinical signs — bacteria adapted to live in felines
• Flea control eliminates transmission risk — no flea dirt means no transmission
• Up to 40% of cats in warm/humid climates may carry Bartonella
• Testing not recommended for average cats; only for blood donors or immunocompromised households
• Treatment: azithromycin, doxycycline — minimum 3 weeks; bacteria rapidly become resistant
• Zoonotic disease: wash cat scratches promptly; keep claws trimmed