Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of what condition associated with regional lymphadenopathy?

Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of what condition associated with regional lymphadenopathy?

• A. Francisella tularensis
• B. Yersinia pestis
• C. Bartonella quintana
• D. Bartonella henselae

Answer: (D)

Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae and classically presents with tender regional lymphadenopathy after a cat scratch or bite. The infection begins at the inoculation site, usually a small papule, and the draining lymph nodes enlarge near that region (often in children). Bartonella henselae is a small, fastidious Gram-negative bacillus; cats are the reservoir and flea exposure helps transmission. Diagnosis is supported by serology or PCR, and the course is often self-limited, though antibiotics like azithromycin can shorten the lymph node enlargement. Other organisms listed cause different diseases with lymphadenopathy (for example, Francisella tularensis causes tularemia, Yersinia pestis causes bubonic plague, and Bartonella quintana causes trench fever or bacillary angiomatosis).

Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae and classically presents with tender regional lymphadenopathy after a cat scratch or bite. The infection begins at the inoculation site, usually a small papule, and the draining lymph nodes enlarge near that region (often in children). Bartonella henselae is a small, fastidious Gram-negative bacillus; cats are the reservoir and flea exposure helps transmission. Diagnosis is supported by serology or PCR, and the course is often self-limited, though antibiotics like azithromycin can shorten the lymph node enlargement. Other organisms listed cause different diseases with lymphadenopathy (for example, Francisella tularensis causes tularemia, Yersinia pestis causes bubonic plague, and Bartonella quintana causes trench fever or bacillary angiomatosis).