Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in patients with uveitis and healthy individuals in Tokyo

To compare the seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae, a pathogen of cat scratch disease, in patients with uveitis and in healthy individuals. Serum samples were collected from 197 consecutive patients with various entities of uveitis at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, and from 83 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers. Anti-Bartonella IgG and IgM antibodies were examined by indirect immunofluorescent antibody. Serum antibodies to B. henselae were positive in 39 of 197 (19.8%) patients with uveitis, and in 21 of 83 (25.3%) of the healthy volunteers. There was no statistical difference in the seroprevalence between the two groups. The overall seroprevalence of B. henselae was 60 of 280 (21.4%). The seroprevalence of B. henselae was similar in both patients with uveitis and in healthy volunteers in Tokyo, Japan. These data indicate that a significant number of healthy individuals are asymptomatic carriers of B. henselae, which should be kept in mind when a diagnosis of cat scratch disease is made.