Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Anaplasma infection causing joint pain and lethargy in Italian cats
By Tarello, W·Published in The Veterinary record·2005·International Veterinary Hospital·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Microscopic and clinical evidence for Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum infection in Italian cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats in Italy showed signs of illness due to a bacterial infection called Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Symptoms included loss of appetite, lethargy, joint pain, neck stiffness, and weight loss. One cat had severe symptoms for four months, including vomiting and difficulty breathing, but improved quickly after being treated with doxycycline, an antibiotic. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the signs of this infection in cats and the effectiveness of doxycycline in treating it.
People also search for: cat vomiting and lethargy · cat joint pain treatment · doxycycline for cat infections
Abstract
Fifteen cats from Italy with Ehrlichia-like inclusion bodies in their neutrophils were studied. They were diagnosed with Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum infection on the basis of cytological observation of morulae within 1 to 21 per cent of their neutrophils, clinical signs characteristic of ehrlichiosis and their response to doxycycline. The predominant signs of disease were anorexia, lethargy, hyperaesthesia, muscle and joint pain, lameness, neck rigidity, lymphadenomegaly, gingivitis/periodontitis, conjunctivitis, weight loss, incoordination, pale mucous membranes and hyperglobulinaemia. The cat with inclusions in 21 per cent of its neutrophils had suffered arthralgia, tachypnoea, neck rigidity, vomiting and thrombocytopenia for four months, but recovered promptly after treatment with doxycycline.
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 on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15951500/