TABLE 1.
Postmortem PCR amplification results and Bartonella blood culture status at sacrifice (day 454)a
| Tissue | PCR result for culture-positive cat no.
|
% | PCR results for culture-negative cat no.
|
% | Total PCR positive (%) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 18 | ||||
| Blood | + | + | + | + | 100 | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | 100 | 100 |
| Brainb | − | − | −c | + | 25 | + | + | + | + | +d | + | − | + | + | 89 | 69 |
| Lymph node | +e | −e | +e | +e | 75 | +e | −e | −e | −e | +e | −e | −e | +e | −e | 34 | 46 |
| Lung | + | − | − | − | 25 | − | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | 11 | 17 |
| Left ventricle | +e | +e | + | −e | 75 | −e | − | +e | + | +e | +e | + | −e | − | 56 | 62 |
| Liver | +e | +e | −e | +e | 75 | − | + | +e | + | +e | +e | + | +e | +e | 89 | 85 |
| Kidney | + | + | + | + | 100 | + | + | −e | + | +e | − | − | +e | −e | 56 | 64 |
a
+, amplification of Bartonella DNA; −, no amplification of Bartonella DNA.
b
There was a statistically significant association between negative blood culture results and the ability to amplify Bartonella DNA from brain tissue (P < 0.02; chi-square test).
c
Neurologic dysfunction on day 106 but afebrile and no CSF was drawn.
d
CSF obtained from this cat during an episode of neurologic dysfunction (day 81) was PCR-positive; focal seizure activity was noted on day 2522, but this cat was afebrile. CSF was not saved for PCR.
e
Histologic lesions were observed in adjacent tissue.