Bartonella in Italy

Excerpt:

 A PCR assay
specific for the Bartonella 16S rRNA gene was carried out on DNA samples
extracted from blood of the 234 cats; 26 (11.1%) of the seropositive
cats were positive. Two PCR protocols, which discriminate genotypes I
and II of B. henselae, were performed on all DNA samples. Sixteen (6.8%)
cats were infected by genotype I, 6 (2.5%) by genotype II, and two males
(0.8%) by both genotypes. Two female (0.8%) cats which were Bartonella
sp. PCR positive, gave negative results with the types I and II PCR.
This protocol facilitates the direct and rapid detection of Bartonella
DNA in feline blood samples, and differentiates B. henselae genotypes.