Pancytopenia in a cat with visceral leishmaniasis |
| |
| Authors: | Ricardo Marcos Marta Santos Fernanda Malhão Rui Pereira Ana Cristina Fernandes Luís Montenegro Paola Roccabianca |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Cytology Diagnostic Services, ICBAS – Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal;2. *The first 2 authors contributed equally to this case report and should be regarded as joint first authors.;3. Montenegro Veterinary Hospital, Porto, Portugal;4. Boa Nova Veterinary Clinic, Matosinhos, Portugal;5. Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica – Sezione Anatomia Patologica e Patologia Aviare, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Milan, Italy |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract: 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. |
| |
| Keywords: | Blood buffy coat cat Leishmania pancytopenia |
|
|
