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At least 991 records · Page 55Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Bartonella henselae infection in cats: evaluation during primary infection, treatment, and rechallenge infection.

Bartonella henselae infection was established in eight cats of various ages by experimental inoculation. All cats remained persistently bacteremic until they were treated 4 to 7 weeks after primary inoculation. Antibody titers increased and peaked between 4 and 12 weeks for all cats. Treatment with doxycycline for 1 week was effective in suppressing bacteremia in all cats but was effective in clearing infection from only four cats. Amoxicillin, given subsequently, was effective in clearing the infection from three of the remaining cats. One kitten that remained bacteremic was treated unsuccessfully with enrofloxacin, and its bacteremia was finally cleared when it was treated with a clavulanate-amoxicillin combination. After the bacteremia was cleared, with a corresponding reduction in serum antibody titers, all eight cats were rechallenged with B. henselae. None of the cats became bacteremic after secondary challenge, and all had higher and more rapid increases in serum antibody titers than after primary inoculation. The cats became resistant to reinfection following recovery from infection, indicating that immunoprophylaxis in cats might be beneficial in helping to reduce their public health risk.

Angiomatosis, Bacillary↗
PubMed1998

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii infections among pet cats in Kanagawa and Saitama Prefectures.

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae and Toxoplasma gondii was investigated among 471 pet cats obtained from seven private animal hospitals in Kanagawa and Saitama Prefectures during the period from May 1994 to June 1995. 'Furthermore, 67 randomly selected from the 471 serum samples were examined for the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibody and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen. The antibody to B. henselae was examined by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. T. gondii, FIV and FeLV infections in cats were detected with respective commercial kits. Of the cat serum samples tested, 43 (9.1%) were found to be seropositive for B. henselae and 41 (8.7%) for T. gondii. The B. henselae-positive rate (12.9%) of male cats was significantly higher than that (5.2%) of female cats. On the other hand, T. gondii-positive rate was 9.1% in male and 8.7% in female cats and there was no significant difference in the positivity between sexes. The positive rate in each hospital varied from 0 to 19.5% for B. henselae and 4.9 to 18.8% for T. gondii. The ages of B. henselae- and T. gondii-positive cats were distributed from < 1-year-old to 14-year-old and the seropositivity increased with age of cats. Of the 67 cat serum samples, 16 and 6 cases were positive for FIV and FeLV, respectively. There was no relationship between these viral and B. henselae infections in cats.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Control of expression of the gene for the arginine transporter Cat-1 in rat liver cells by glucocorticoids and insulin.

Hepatic arginine and lysine uptake is partly regulated by changes in the transport activity of a group of cell surface proteins exhibiting properties of the transport system y+. The Cat-1 gene encodes a sodium-independent high-affinity cationic amino acid transporter of the y+ system which is nearly undetectable in the quiescent liver. In this paper we investigate the regulation of expression of Cat-1 in the quiescent rat liver by glucocorticoids and insulin, two hormones which play a critical role in amino acid dependent pathways of hepatic metabolism. Injection of insulin and glucocorticoids resulted in a rapid (15-30 min, 4-5 fold) increase in transcription which returned to basal levels within 4 hours. In contrast to the rapid single peak of transcriptional induction of the Cat-1 gene, the accumulation of the Cat-1 mRNAs occurred transiently with two peaks, the first at 30 minutes and the second at 2-4 hours following hormone treatment. These data indicate that expression of the Cat-1 gene in the quiescent liver can be transiently induced by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. In FTO2B rat hepatoma cells, expression of the gene is constitutive and accumulation of Cat-1 mRNAs in response to dexamethasone and insulin was dependent on transcription and protein synthesis. Furthermore, the accumulation of the basal level of the Cat-1 mRNAs was reduced by 70%, upon treatment of cells with inhibitors of protein synthesis for 6 h, when the transcription rate of the gene did not decrease significantly. We conclude the following: (i) under normal physiologic conditions, expression of the Cat-1 gene in the quiescent liver is negligible, probably to prevent unnecessary transport and metabolism of arginine by the hepatic arginase in the hepatocytes. (ii) in the cases when hepatic cationic amino acid transport is needed, such as following feeding, cellular growth and illness, glucocorticoids and insulin induce expression of the Cat-1 gene in liver cells through induction of transcription and stabilization of the mRNA. (iii) constitutive Cat-1 mRNA accumulation in rat hepatoma cells depends on protein synthesis through a labile regulated factor. Overall, constitutive expression of Cat-1 is associated with hepatic cellular growth and transformation.

Amino Acid Transport Systems, Basic↗
PubMed1984

A survey of helminths in stray cats from Copenhagen with ecological aspects.

At autopsy of 230 adult stray cats, 120 from backyards and 110 from gardens, the intestinal tract was scrutinized for helminths. The prevalence of Toxocara cati, Taenia taeniaeformis and Dipylidium caninum was found to be 79%, 11% and 14%, respectively. Comparisons were made with the results of previous Danish investigations. The prevalence of Toxocara cati was found to be independent of time of collection and the sex and habitat of the cats and identical in cats with or without Taenia. This indicates that paratenic hosts do not play an important epizootiological role in the transmission of T. cati. The intensity of Toxocara per cat followed a negative binomial pattern. The high prevalence of T. cati combined with most cats having a low wormload shows that the cat population generally possesses a high degree of resistance against superimposed infections. The intensity of male Toxocara increases with the size of the worm population. This we consider to be an expression of increasing susceptibility of the cats. The prevalence of T. taeniaeformis was significantly higher in garden cats, due to their greater opportunity for catching mice. D. caninum, however, was significantly more frequent in backyard cats, probably owing to better living condition for the flea larvae in backyards. For both T. taeniaeformis and D. caninum a higher frequency was found in female cats, which is thought to be associated with their care for the kittens.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Quantification of lymphadenopathy in experimentally induced feline immunodeficiency virus infection in domestic cats.

Nine cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and six FIV-negative cats were necropsied to assess the effect of FIV infection on lymph nodes. The FIV infected cats were inoculated with 10(5) TCID50 21-22 weeks previously. The combined weights of all lymph nodes and the combined lymph node to organ weight ratios were significantly greater in FIV-infected cats when compared to uninfected cats. Additionally, by examining all nodes in the body, a regionally severe lymphadenopathy in FIV-infected cats was evident involving the lymph nodes of the hindlimb, forelimb, and head, in decreasing order of severity, with little evidence of enlargement in lymph nodes of the alimentary tract. Use of 99% confidence intervals showed that 9/9 FIV infected cats had enlarged lymph nodes of the hindlimb and forelimb region. In contrast, 7/9 and 3/9 FIV-infected cats exhibited enlargement of the nodes of the head region and alimentary tract, respectively. Similarly the combined weights of both left and right popliteal lymph nodes were enlarged in 9/9 FIV-infected cats whereas 0/6 in uninfected cats were not. The enlargement of the popliteal lymph nodes observed at necropsy was reflected microscopically by an increase in the size and number of germinal centres and an increase in the number of plasma cells, especially in the medullary cords. Because of the regional variation in lymph node size and numbers, it is suggested that the popliteal lymph node is a good indicator node for the assessment of lymph node status in FIV infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Inhaled fluticasone reduces bronchial responsiveness and airway inflammation in cats with mild chronic bronchitis.

This study investigated the effect of inhaled fluticasone on lower airway inflammation and bronchial responsiveness (BR) to inhaled carbachol in cats with very mild, chronic bronchitis (n = 5) that were compared with healthy cats serving as controls (n = 6). Chest radiographs, BR tests performed non-invasively by barometric whole body plethysmography (BWBP) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed before and after treatment. BR was quantified by calculating the concentration of carbachol inducing bronchoconstriction (C-Penh300%), defined as a 300% increase of baseline Penh, an index of bronchoconstriction obtained by BWBP. BAL fluid was analyzed cytologically and the oxidant marker 8-iso-PGF2alpha was determined. At test 1, healthy cats and cats with bronchitis were untreated, whereas for test 2 inhalant fluticasone (250 microg once daily) was administrated for 2 consecutive weeks to cats with bronchitis. Control cats remained untreated. Inhaled fluticasone induced a significant increase in C-Penh300% and a significant decrease of BAL fluid total cells, macrophages, neutrophils and 8-iso-PGF2alpha in cats with bronchitis, whilst untreated control cats did not show significant changes over time. This study shows that a 2-week fluticasone treatment significantly reduced lower airway inflammation in very mild bronchitis. BR could be successfully monitored in cats using BWPB and decreased significantly in response to inhaled fluticasone. 8-Iso-PGF2alpha in BAL fluid was responsive to treatment and appeared as a sensitive biomarker of lower airway inflammation in cats.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2006

Characterisation of the signalment, clinical and survival characteristics of 41 cats with mast cell neoplasia.

Mast cell tumours (MCTs) are relatively common tumours of cats, and are the second most common cutaneous tumours in cats in the USA. While the primary splenic form of the disease is far less common, it is usually associated with more severe clinical signs. Signalment, clinical and survival characteristics of mast cell neoplasia were characterised in 41 cats. The most common tumour location was cutaneous/subcutaneous head and trunk. Stage 1a was the most common tumour stage at first diagnosis (n=20), followed by stage 4 (both stage 4a and stage 4b; n=10). Of 22 cats that underwent excisional biopsy, mast cell neoplasia recurred in four cats during the study period. Three of the 41 cats presented with simultaneous cutaneous and either splenic or lymph node tumours. A comparison between cats with only cutaneous tumours (n=30) and those with tumours involving the spleen or lymph nodes (n=11) showed longer survival times for the cutaneous-only group (P=0.031). Twelve of the 41 cats died of mast cell neoplasia during the study period. When a subgroup of cats with only cutaneous tumours (no lymph node or visceral involvement) were divided according to whether there were multiple (five or more) tumours (n=6) or a single tumour (n=19), cats with single tumours survived longer than those with multiple tumours (P=0.001). Solitary cutaneous feline MCTs without spread to the lymph nodes usually manifest as benign disease with a relatively protracted course. However, multiple cutaneous tumours, recurrent tumours and primary splenic disease should receive a guarded prognosis due to the relatively short median survival times associated with these forms of the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Intracranial neoplasia in 61 cats: localisation, tumour types and seizure patterns.

The purpose of this study was to analyse retrospectively a feline population with intracranial neoplastic diseases, to document seizure patterns in these animals and to determine whether partial seizures were more frequently associated with structural brain lesions then generalised seizures. In addition, a comparison was made within the population with intracranial neoplasia between two groups of cats: one with and one without seizures. Special emphasis was given to the evaluation of tumour type, localisation and size of the lesion and its correlation with seizure prevalence. Sixty-one cats with histopathological diagnosis of intracranial tumour were identified. Fourteen cats (23%; group A) had a history of seizure(s). Forty-seven cats (77%; group B) had no history of seizure(s). Generalised tonic-clonic seizures were seen in eight cats (57%) and were the most common seizure pattern in our cats with intracranial neoplasia. Clusters of seizures were observed in six cats. Status epilepticus was observed in one patient. The mean age of the cats was 7.9 years within group A (median 8.5) and 9.3 years (median 10) within group B. The cats with lymphoma within both groups were significantly younger than cats with meningioma. In both groups meningioma and lymphoma were confirmed to be the most frequent tumour type, followed by glial cell tumours. The prevalence of the seizures in patients with glial cell tumours was 26.7%, 26.3% in patients with lymphomas and 15% in cases with meningiomas. In 33 cases (54.1%) the tumours were localised in the forebrain, 15 tumours (24.6%) were in the brainstem, four (6.6%) in the cerebellum and nine tumours (14.7%) had multifocal localisation. Parietal lobe and basal ganglia mostly affected group A. In group B tumours were most frequently located in the parietal and frontal lobes as well as in the diencephalon. A positive association was documented between the localisation of a tumour in the forebrain and seizure occurrence.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Population characteristics of feral cats admitted to seven trap-neuter-return programs in the United States.

Internationally, large populations of feral cats constitute an important and controversial issue due to their impact on cat overpopulation, animal welfare, public health, and the environment, and to disagreement about what are the best methods for their control. Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs are an increasingly popular alternative to mass euthanasia. The objective of this study was to determine the population characteristics of feral cats admitted to large-scale TNR programs from geographically diverse locations in the United States. Data from 103,643 feral cats admitted to TNR programs from 1993 to 2004 were evaluated. All groups reported more intact females (53.4%) than intact males (44.3%); only 2.3% of the cats were found to be previously sterilized. Overall, 15.9% of female cats were pregnant at the time of surgery. Pregnancy was highly seasonal and peaked between March and April for all of the groups. The average prenatal litter size was 4.1+/-0.1 fetuses per litter. Cryptorchidism was observed in 1.3% of male cats admitted for sterilization. A total of 0.4% of cats was euthanased because of the presence of debilitating conditions, and 0.4% died during the TNR clinics. Remarkably similar populations of cats with comparable seasonal variability were seen at each program, despite their wide geographical distribution. These results suggest that it is feasible to safely sterilize large numbers of feral cats and that the experiences of existing programs are a consistent source of information upon which to model new TNR programs.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Results of magnetic resonance imaging in 14 cats with meningoencephalitis.

Medical records and magnetic resonance (MR) images of 14 cats with inflammatory diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) were reviewed retrospectively. Cases included eight cats with feline infectious peritonitis and two cats with toxoplasmosis. Abnormalities affecting the CNS were observed in MR images in 10 (71%) cats. Intracranial lesions appeared as slightly hypointense foci in T1-weighted images in two (14%) cats, as hyperintense foci in T2-weighted images in seven (50%) cats and as hyperintense foci after intravenous administration of a gadolinium-based contrast medium in 10 (71%) cats. In six cats with lesions in T1- and/or T2-weighted images, additional lesions were visible in T1-weighted images obtained after gadolinium-based contrast medium administration. In three cats, lesions were visible only after contrast medium administration. In our study, MR imaging (MRI) did not appear to detect all cases of CNS inflammation in the population of cats with inflammatory cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); however, MRI adds information about the sites and morphology of intracranial lesions that should help to distinguish between neoplasia and inflammatory conditions and, possibly, between different inflammatory conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Recombinant canarypox vectored West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine protects dogs and cats against a mosquito WNV challenge.

The safety and efficacy of a canarypox vector expressing PrM and E genes of West Nile virus (WNV) (ALVAC-WNV) was evaluated in dogs and cats. One group of 17 dogs (vaccinated with 10(5.6) TCID(50)) and two groups of cats (groups 1 [n=14] vaccinated with 10(7.5) TCID(50) and 2 [n=8] 10(5.6) TCID(50)) were vaccinated twice at 28-day intervals. Fifteen dogs and eleven cats served as negative controls. The cats and dogs were challenged 120 and 135 days after the second immunization, respectively via the bites of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes infected with WNV. The first dose of vaccine induced a detectable antibody response in four dogs and five cats (one immunized with low and four with high doses). After the second dose, all the vaccinated dogs and all of the cats, immunized with high dose had detectable antibody titers, whereas only four of eight cats in the low dose group were seropositive. None of the vaccinated dogs and one vaccinated cat developed viremia following the WNV mosquito-challenge. In contrast, 14 of the 15 control dogs and 9 of the 11 control cats developed viremia. The experimental vaccine described in this study may be of value in the prevention of WNV infection in dogs and cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

A survey of gastrointestinal helminths in cats of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in 135 cats over 1 year of age and inhabiting the metropolitan region of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was investigated by necropsy. These animals had two distinct origins: 99 cats (29 males and 70 females) were derived by capture in public areas (feral/stray) and 36 (12 males and 24 females) from shelters. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites was 89.6%. The following parasites, with their respective prevalence in parenthesis, were found: Dipylidium caninum (52.6%), Ancylostoma braziliense (65.9%), Ancylostoma tubaeforme (8.9%), Toxocara cati (25.2%), Toxascaris leonina (11.9%), Physaloptera praeputialis (9.6%). Concurrent infections with two or more parasites were recorded in 59.5% of the individuals. Of the 121 parasitized cats, 94 were feral/strays and 27 were from shelters. Among feral/stray cats, 80 were infected with A. braziliense (85%) and 17 of the shelter felids were infected with D. caninum (63%). Feral/stray cats had higher worm intensities (6411/94-68.2) than shelter cats (992/27-36.7). The helminth parasites most frequently found in feral/stray cats were Ancylostoma braziliense (47.5%) and D. caninum (47%) while in shelter cats, D. caninum was the predominant species (85.2%). Twenty seven cats (22.3%) had only A. braziliense and 19 (15.7%) were parasitized only with D. caninum. Among those cats harboring mixed infections A. braziliense and D. caninum were the species more frequently found (P < 0.001).

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Plasma leptin concentrations in cats: reference range, effect of weight gain and relationship with adiposity as measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

The aims of our study were to determine a reference range for plasma leptin in healthy, normal-weight cats and to measure the effect of weight gain on plasma leptin levels. To increase our understanding of the association between leptin and feline obesity, we investigated the relationship between plasma leptin and measures of adiposity in cats. Twenty-six normal-weight cats were used to determine the reference range for feline leptin using a multispecies radioimmunoassay. In the second part of the study, plasma leptin concentrations were determined in 16 cats before and after approximately 10 months of spontaneous weight gain. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans (DEXA) were performed after weight gain. The tolerance interval for plasma leptin concentrations was 0.92-11.9 ng/ml Human Equivalent (HE) with a mean concentration of 6.41+/-2.19 ng/ml HE. In part two of the study, 16 cats gained on average 44.2% bodyweight over 10 months. The percentage of body fat in obese cats ranged from 34.2 to 48.7%. Mean plasma leptin concentrations increased from 7.88+/-4.02 ng/ml HE before weight gain to 24.5+/-12.1 ng/ml HE after weight gain, (P<0.001). Total body fat and body fat per cent were the strongest predictors of plasma leptin in obese cats (r=0.8 and r=0.78, P<0.001, respectively). In conclusion, plasma leptin concentrations increased three-fold in cats as a result of weight gain and were strongly correlated with the amount of adipose tissue present. Despite elevated leptin levels, cats continued to eat and gain weight, suggesting decreased sensitivity to leptin. This investigation into the biology of leptin in cats may aid the overall understanding of the role of leptin and the development of future treatments to help prevent and manage feline obesity.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2002

Plasma leptin concentrations are independently associated with insulin sensitivity in lean and overweight cats.

This study investigated relationships between plasma leptin, insulin concentrations, insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in lean and overweight cats. Leptin concentrations were measured in 16 cats during glucose tolerance tests before and after gaining weight, and after feeding a test meal in overweight cats. An important finding of this study is that in both lean (r=-0.79) and overweight (r=-0.89) cats, the higher the leptin concentrations, the more insulin resistant the cat, independent of the degree of adiposity. Leptin concentrations at baseline and after consuming a meal tended to be higher in overweight cats with glucose intolerance, compared to overweight cats with normal glucose tolerance, although the difference was not significant. After feeding the test meal to overweight cats in the early morning, plasma leptin concentrations initially decreased before subsequently rising to peak 15 h later, which coincided with late evening. The leptin peak occurred 9 h after the insulin peak following ingestion of the test meal. Importantly, this study suggests that increased leptin concentrations may contribute to the diminished insulin sensitivity seen in overweight cats. Alternatively, the compensatory hyperinsulinaemia found with insulin resistance in overweight cats could stimulate leptin production.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Cat scratch disease in Connecticut. Epidemiology, risk factors, and evaluation of a new diagnostic test.

BACKGROUND: Although cat scratch disease is commonly diagnosed in patients who have unexplained regional lymphadenopathy after encounters with cats, its epidemiology and the risk factors for disease are not clearly defined, and there is no generally accepted diagnostic test. METHODS: We conducted a physician survey to identify cases of cat scratch disease occurring over a 13-month period in cat owners in Connecticut. We interviewed both the patients (or their parents) and controls matched for age who owned cats. Serum from the patients was tested for antibodies to Rochalimaea henselae with a new, indirect fluorescent-antibody test. RESULTS: We identified 60 patients with cat scratch disease and 56 age-matched subjects. Patients were more likely than controls to have at least one pet kitten 12 months old or younger (odds ratio, 15), to have been scratched or bitten by a kitten (odds ratio, 27), and to have had at least one kitten with fleas (odds ratio, 29). A conditional logistic-regression analysis found that in kitten-owning households, patients were more likely than controls to have been scratched or bitten by a cat or kitten (odds ratio, 12.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.0 to 150). Of 45 patients, 38 had serum samples with titers of 1:64 or higher for antibody to R. henselae, as compared with 4 of 112 samples from controls (P < 0.001). The positive predictive value of the serologic test was 91 percent. Of 48 serum samples from patients' cats, 39 were positive for antibodies to R. henselae, as compared with positive samples from 11 of 29 control cats (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cat scratch disease is strongly associated with owning a kitten, and fleas may be involved in its transmission. The serologic test for rochalimaea may be useful diagnostically, and our results suggest an etiologic role for this genus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Does coinfection of Bartonella henselae and FIV induce clinical disorders in cats?

It was found that Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) may induce clinical disorders in cats in natural conditions from a comparison of the serological status for B. henselae with the serostatus for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and several clinical characteristics in 170 domestic cats. Seropositivity for B. henselae was not significantly different between FIV antibody-positive and -negative cats (18.4% vs 16.0%). The incidence of clinical characteristics were compared among four cat groups distinguished by the reactivity of sera against B. henselae and FIV. The incidence of lymph node swelling was lower in only FIV antibody-positive cats (3.0%), but higher in B. henselae antibody-positive cats (13.6%) and significantly higher in both B. henselae and FIV antibody-positive cats (42.9%) compared with the incidence of lymph node swelling in cats which were negative for both antibodies (5.5%). The same relation was also observed for the incidence of gingivitis among the 4 cat groups, suggesting that coinfection of B. henselae and FIV may be associated with gingivitis and lymphadenopathy in cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Seroepidemiological investigation of feline chlamydiosis in cats and humans in Japan.

The prevalence of chlamydia antibodies in Japan was investigated in 215 cat sera, consisting of 88 sera of stray cats and 127 sera of pet cats, and 2,184 human sera, taken from 2,003 general persons and 181 small animal clinic veterinarians, by microimmunofluorescence (MIF) testing with Chlamydia psittaci Fe/Pn1 of feline origin and Prk/6BC of avian origin as antigens. The prevalence rates of anti-Fe/Pn1 antibodies were 45.5% in stray cats, 17.3% in pet cats, 1.7% in general persons and 8.8% in small animal clinic veterinarians. The prevalence rates of anti-Prk/6BC antibodies were 51.1% in stray cats, 15.0% in pet cats, 3.1% in general persons and 5.0% in small animal clinic veterinarians. These results suggested that feline chlamydia infection is widely spread in cats especially in stray cats in Japan, and suggested that feline chlamydiosis could be transmitted to people who are in close contact with infected cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Predominant T helper 2 immune responses against Bartonella henselae in naturally infected cats.

This study was conducted to explicate the mechanism of long-term bacteremia in Bartonella henselae-infected cats by the examining host immune responses. Blood samples were collected from three naturally infected cats and the IgG antibody titers and the cytokine responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR). Relapsing bacteremia was found in two of the three cats during the examination period. The quantitative RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that increases of the mRNA expressions in interleukin-4 (IL-4) but not in gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) were observed in PBMC from these infected cats after the bacteremia had peaked, showing that the T helper 2 (Th2) responses were specifically induced in the cats. Furthermore, the specific antibody titer increased, resulting in a decrease in the number of B. henselae to undetectable levels in these cats. However, the number of bacteria increased again in two of these cats at 90 and 45 days after the previous bacteremia, respectively. These results suggest that B. henselae predominantly induced IL-4 production from PBMC and resulted in stimulation of the humoral immune responses, including the secretion of specific antibodies in the cats. Furthermore, the specific antibody may play a role in eliminating the bacteria from cats partially but not completely, because relapsing bacteremia was found in these two cats.

Animals↗