Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leishmaniosis in a cat with chronic diarrhea as the only clinical manifestation.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary internal medicine
- Year:
- 2022
- Authors:
- Tabar, María-Dolores et al.
- Affiliation:
- Hospital Veterinario San Vicente-Vetsum · Spain
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old male domestic shorthaired cat was brought in because he had chronic diarrhea that wasn't getting better with treatment. Tests showed he had high levels of certain proteins in his blood and mild anemia, and they ruled out other possible causes for the diarrhea. A closer examination of his gastrointestinal tract revealed inflammation and the presence of Leishmania parasites, which are known to cause disease. After starting treatment with allopurinol and a special dietary supplement, the cat's gastrointestinal issues improved, but he still tested positive for the parasites and had some ongoing blood changes eight months later. Unfortunately, the cat passed away from unrelated issues three months after that, but this case highlights that leishmaniosis can cause chronic diarrhea in cats, especially in areas where the disease is common.
Abstract
A 10-year-old male domestic shorthaired cat was presented with chronic diarrhea unresponsive to treatment. Laboratory testing identified hyperglobulinemia and mild nonregenerative anemia, and nongastrointestinal causes of diarrhea were ruled out. Gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy were performed and disclosed diffuse generalized granulomatous and lymphoplasmocytic inflammatory reaction in all segments of gastrointestinal tract evaluated, with numerous Leishmania spp. amastigotes within the cytoplasm of macrophages. The organism also was detected in spleen and bone marrow and Leishmania spp. serology was positive (immunofluorescence assay 1 : 160). A diagnosis of granulomatous enteritis secondary to leishmaniosis was made. Gastrointestinal signs resolved after treatment with allopurinol and a dietary supplement of nucleotides and active hexose-correlated compounds (N-AHCC), but seropositivity and gammopathy persisted 8 months later. The cat died of unrelated causes after an additional 3 months and permission for necropsy was not granted. Leishmaniosis as a cause of chronic diarrhea has not been reported previously in cats and should be considered in endemic areas in cats with chronic gastrointestinal signs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35037701/