Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease, is transmitted by:

• A Direct bite from an infected cat
• B Tick bite (Ixodes species)
• C Inhalation of cat dander contaminated with Bartonella
• D Cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) faeces inoculated via a cat scratch ✓

Explanation

Cat scratch disease transmission involves the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) which deposits Bartonella henselae in its faeces on the cat's fur; when a cat scratches a human, flea faeces are inoculated into the wound. Cats themselves are reservoir hosts with high bacteraemia but remain healthy. The primary lesion is a papule or pustule at the scratch site followed by regional lymphadenopathy. Ticks transmit Bartonella quintana (trench fever via body louse), not B. henselae. PCR on lymph node aspirate or Warthin-Starry silver stain are diagnostic methods.

Reference: Ananthanarayan & Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.