Bartonella henselae is an intracellular bacterium that causes zoonotic cat scratch disease (CSD). This disease has a global spread and is mainly transmitted through arthropod vectors. Since cats are identified as the main source of B. henselae infection, the aim of this study was to evaluate molecular detection of B. henselae in blood samples obtained from pet cats in Kerman using Nested-PCR. Seventy-two blood samples were collected from pet cats that were referred to the Shahid Bahonor University Veterinary Hospital. A Nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze the samples, with the 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region as the target. B. henselae DNA was found in 5.5% (4/72) of blood samples. The results of this study showed that owned cats in Kerman could be one of the potential reservoirs of cat scratch disease, but to achieve definitive results, complementary studies must be performed on cat owners.
