ABSTRACT
Tularemia was diagnosed in 2 cats that were examined because of pyrexia and lethargy; both cats had a history of exposure to wild rabbits. One cat was vomiting, and the other was anorectic. Physical examination revealed dehydration, lymphadenopathy, and hepatomegaly. Hematologic and serum biochemical abnormalities included toxic neutrophils, high band neutrophil count, thrombocytopenia, and hyperbilirubinemia. Diagnosis was confirmed by isolating Francisella tularensis subsp tularensis from bone marrow or lymph node aspirates. Evaluation of samples collected during the acute and convalescent phases of the disease revealed an increase in serum F tularensis antibody titer. Both cats responded to treatment with fluids and antibiotics.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Tularemia/veterinary , Animals , Anorexia/veterinary , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Cats , Female , Fever/veterinary , Francisella tularensis/immunology , Francisella tularensis/isolation & purification , Male , Sleep Stages , Tularemia/diagnosis , Vomiting/veterinaryABSTRACT
Recognition of hepatozoonosis in four dogs that lived in Oklahoma their entire lifetimes documents expansion of the previously recognized endemic area of the disease. Salient clinical features are fever, marked neutrophilic leukocytosis, periosteal new bone proliferation, myalgia, weakness, muscle and generalized wasting, and lack of response to treatment. Transient, large-bowel diarrhea may be observed. Each of the four cases had signs compatible with chronic, persistent inflammatory disease that were poorly and ultimately nonresponsive to antimicrobial treatment. Diagnosis was confirmed in one case by recognition of Hepatozoon gamonts in peripheral blood leukocytes. Encysted forms of the organism were present in skeletal muscle and other tissues of each case.
