DENTISTRY - Bartonellosis and feline gingivostomatitis: Is there a relationship?

摘要

We routinely test cats and kittens for bartonellosis. Because the clinical signs of gingivitis and stomatitis are usually seen in 45% of cats with bartonellosis, why not test and treat for this disease before extracting their teeth? The clinical signsof feline gingivostomatitis are well known to all of us. Since the only reliable cure for this disease is extraction of most (the teeth caudal to the canines) if not all the teeth, it is tempting to look for alternative treatments. A recent hypothesis is that feline gingivostomatitis is caused by Bartonella species infections and that treating for bartonellosis will cure the condition.