Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Imprint cytology of cat scratch disease. A report of eight cases.
- Journal:
- APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica
- Year:
- 1996
- Authors:
- Kojima, M et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Pathology · Japan
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This study looked at eight cases of cat scratch disease (CSD), which is an infection that can happen after being scratched or bitten by a cat. All the cats had been exposed to other animals about 2 to 4 weeks before they showed signs of swollen lymph nodes, and the cases were mostly seen in the fall and winter. The researchers found specific types of cells in the lymph node samples that are typical for this disease, including certain immune cells that suggest inflammation. The findings from the cell samples matched what they had seen in earlier tissue samples from affected cats. Overall, the study helps to better understand how to identify cat scratch disease in cats.
Abstract
The cytologic features of cat scratch disease (CSD) from eight cases in imprint smears are presented. All patients were clinicopathologically diagnosed with CSD as follows: 1) a history of animal exposure was recorded 2 to 4 weeks before lymphadenopathy; 2) the disease occurred in the autumn and winter months; 3) a characteristic histopathology in the biopsied lymph node specimens was observed; and 4) Warthin-Starry silver stain-positive bacteria were detected in four of the seven cases examined. The characteristic cytologic finding was the presence of confluent epithelioid cells with nearby and central scattering of neutrophils against a background of polymorphic inflammatory cells. Furthermore, a varying number of medium-sized to large lymphoid cells with an appearance suggestive of monocytoid B lymphocytes (MBLs) were noted to be associated with the epithelioid cells. These cytologic findings closely paralleled the histologic patterns of epithelioid cell granulomas, with and without MBLs, which we have previously reported are probably associated with the disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8703446/