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Pancytopenia in a cat with visceral leishmaniasis
Author(s) -
Marcos Ricardo,
Santos Marta,
Malhão Fernanda,
Pereira Rui,
Fernandes Ana Cristina,
Montenegro Luís,
Roccabianca Paola
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
veterinary clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.537
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1939-165X
pISSN - 0275-6382
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2009.00111.x
Subject(s) - pancytopenia , leishmania infantum , visceral leishmaniasis , medicine , canine leishmaniasis , immunology , leishmaniasis , cats , bone marrow , leishmania , toxoplasmosis , feline leukemia virus , serology , pathology , virology , parasite hosting , antibody , world wide web , computer science
A 4‐year‐old, domestic shorthair, female spayed cat was presented for decreased appetite and depression. Severe pancytopenia with erythrocyte autoagglutination was found. The cat was seronegative for feline immunodeficiency and leukemia viruses. Immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia was suspected but no response to treatment with a blood transfusion, enrofloxacin, and prednisone was observed. Blood and bone marrow smears obtained 11 days later contained Leishmania amastigotes in the cytoplasm of neutrophils and macrophages, respectively. Serologic and PCR testing of peripheral blood confirmed infection with Leishmania infantum . Despite treatment, the cat worsened clinically and was euthanized. At necropsy, visceral dissemination of the parasite was confirmed. The findings in this case indicate that visceral leishmaniasis should be considered as a differential diagnoses in cats with pancytopenia in areas endemic for Leishmania . In addition, amastigotes may be observed in peripheral blood neutrophils.