Feline bartonellosis associated with some clinicopathological conditions in a veterinary hospital in Selangor, Malaysia

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of feline
bartonellosis and the associated clinicopathological findings in cats presented to the University
Veterinary Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia from 2013–2014. Out of 284 cats examined, Bartonella
DNA was detected in 48 (16.9%) cats using a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay
targeting the internal transcribed spacer of Bartonella species. Bartonella henselae strain
Houston was identified through BLAST analyses of randomly selected amplicons. Univariable
analysis showed significant association of feline bartonellosis with cats < 2 years of age (OR
1.37, 95% CI 0.982–1.927, p = 0.036) and those presenting with ocular discharge (OR 3.211,
95% CI 1.422–7.248, p = 0.003). Significant associations of neutrophilia (OR 2.244, 95% CI
1.131–4.452, p = 0.019) and monocytosis (OR 2.476, 95% CI 1.154–5.312, p = 0.017) with
bartonella infection in cats were observed. This study reports for the first time the prevalence
(approximately 17%) of feline bartonellosis in Malaysia and highlights several
clinicopathological factors associated with the disease.