Occurrence: Worldwide.

Reservoir: Domestic cats are vectors and reservoirs for B. henselae; there is no evidence of clinical illness in cats even though chronic bacteremia has been demonstrated.

Mode of transmission: Most patients (?%) give a history of scratch, bite, lick, or other exposure to a healthy, usually young, cat (often a kitten).

Incubation period: Variable, usually 3 to 14 days from inoculation to primary lesion and 5 to 50 days from inoculation to lymphadenopathy..

Methods of control and prevention: Thorough cleaning of cat scratches and bites may be helpful. Flea control and clipping nails of domestic cats.

See pages 83-84 in Control of Communicable Diseases Manual for more detailed information.