High prevalence of antibodies to Bartonella henselae among Italian children without evidence of cat scratch disease.

Abstract

Few data are available on the seroprevalence of antibodies to Bartonella henselae among children. We retrospectively evaluated the presence of immunoglobulin G and M class antibodies to B. henselae in 508 children living in central Italy who were apparently free of any features suggesting B. henselae infection. We found that B. henselae infection is common among children in central Italy, occurs early in life, is in most cases asymptomatic, and resolves spontaneously.

• Authors: Francesco Massei, Francesco Messina, Laura Gori, Pierantonio Macchia, Giuseppe Maggiore
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 38 Issue 1 Pg. 145-8 (Jan 01 2004) ISSN: 1537-6591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 14679462 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Immunoglobulin G
• Immunoglobulin M

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antibodies, Bacterial (analysis)
• Bartonella henselae (immunology, isolation & purification)
• Cat-Scratch Disease (epidemiology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin G (analysis)
• Immunoglobulin M (analysis)
• Infant
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Male
• Seroepidemiologic Studies