[Cat-scratch disease: historical, clinical, phylogenetic and taxonomic aspects].

Abstract

The cat-scratch disease (CSD) is known as a nosological entity since 1950. It was diagnosed by the clinical symptoms, epidemiologic data, and the intracutaneous test of Hanger and Rose. The aetiologic agent is Bartonella (formerly Rochalimaea) henselae occurring in thirty to fifty percent of healthy cats. The gramnegative alpha-2-proteobacteria cause the CSD but also fever in healthy humans. Patients suffering from AIDS show bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis hepatis, endocarditis, and septicemia. There is an open question for other aetiologic agents causing CSD as cofactors. For example, Afipia felis is found to a certain extent from patients suffering from CSD. Furthermore, Rothia dentocariosa was isolated in lymphnodes of CSD patients, and also other grampositive rods may play an important role together with B. henselae in CSD.