Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with multiple infections and spleen cancer diagnosis
By Qurollo, Barbara A et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2014·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Co-infection with Anaplasma platys, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella koehlerae and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' in a cat diagnosed with splenic plasmacytosis and multiple myeloma.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat diagnosed with multiple myeloma was found to have infections from several bacteria, including Anaplasma platys, Bartonella henselae, and others. The cat showed signs of anemia and low platelet counts, which can be concerning for pet owners. After starting treatment with doxycycline for the Anaplasma infection, the cat received chemotherapy with melphalan, chlorambucil, and prednisolone for the cancer. The treatment helped, as the Anaplasma infection cleared up, and the cat's symptoms improved temporarily after chemotherapy.
People also search for: cat multiple myeloma treatment · cat anemia causes · doxycycline for cat infections
Abstract
Anaplasma platys (Apl), 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (CMh), Bartonella henselae (Bh) and Bartonella koehlerae (Bk) were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and DNA sequencing in a cat diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Other inconsistently documented hematologic abnormalities included anemia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia and hypoglycemia. Persistent Apl infection was confirmed for the first time in a North American cat by sequencing three bacterial genes (16S rRNA, p44 and GroEL) in peripheral blood samples collected 100 days apart. Following doxycycline treatment for Apl, multiple myeloma was diagnosed based upon a monoclonal gammopathy and splenic plasmacytosis, and the cat was treated with melphalan, chlorambucil and prednisolone. Apl DNA was not amplified from post-treatment blood samples and the hyperglobulinemia resolved temporarily following chemotherapy. Retrospective PCR analysis of stored DNA extracts identified CMh, Bk and Bh infections. Retrospective PCR for antigen receptor rearrangements (PARR) of splenic aspirates did not confirm B- or T-cell clonality. Co-infection with multiple vector-borne pathogens should be a diagnostic consideration in cats with chronic hypergammaglobulinemia, monoclonal gammopathy and splenic plasmacytosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24445821/