Page 404 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

396 PART 7 SICK CAT WITH SPECIFIC SIGNS

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● Tularemia* (p 410)
Fulminant disease with peripheral and internal lymphadenopathy. Cats are moderately susceptible to
tularemia, Cats typically have acute onset of high fever, depression and anorexia.

● Anthrax (p 418)
Fulminant disease sometimes presenting as acute death with no promontory signs. Rare in cats because
they are resistant to anthrax. Cervical lymphadenopathy and edema of the tongue and pharynx.
● Ehrlichiosis and bartonellosis (p 417)
Regional to generalized lymphadenopathy occur due to hyperplasia. Cats with ehrlichiosis usually have
non-specific signs of illness, while cats with bartonellosis are asymptomatic.
● Bacteremia (p 416)
Variable lymphadenopathy due to hyperplasia may occur in chronic bacteremia, accompanied by
chronic signs of fever, lethargy and inappetence.
Fungal and algal:

● Dimorphic fungal infections**, protothecosis (p 418)
Local to generalized lymphadenopathy occurs due to hyperplasia or lymphadenitis. Concurrent
localizing signs include nasal discharge, dyspnea, lameness, cutaneous nodules and ulcers, seizures
and uveitis. Concurrent systemic signs include fever, weight loss and inappetence.
● Miscellaneous fungal infections* (p 411)
Local to generalized lymphadenopathy results from hyperplasia or lymphadenitis. Cats typically
have chronic ulcerating cutaneous or subcutaneous lesions.

Protozoal:
● Cytauxzoonosis, American and African trypanosomiasis (p 418, 419)
Fulminant diseases where generalized lymphadenopathy may be present. Cats with cytauxzoonosis and
African trypanosomiasis are febrile. Cats with American trypanosomiasis have signs of acute heart failure.
● Toxoplasmosis (p 419)
Acute toxoplasmosis may cause reactive peripheral lymphadenopathy and mesenteric lymph node
necrosis.

INTRODUCTION ● Lymph node biopsy (fine needle, incisional or exci-
sional) for cytology, histology and culture is
required to identify these mechanisms.
MECHANISM?
Hyperplasia is the most common cause of lymph-
Lymphadenopathy refers to enlarged lymph nodes.
adenopathy. It represents the immune response of nor-
Lymphadenopathy may accompany a number of com-
mal lymphoid cells to antigenic stimulation.
mon and uncommon diseases, but it is uncommonly the
● It is characterized cytologically by a predominance
chief complaint.
of small mature lymphocytes with or without
Reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, neoplasia and lymph- increased numbers of immature lymphocytes,
adenitis are the usual causes of lymphadenopathy. plasma cells and macrophages.
Lymphadenopathy is infrequently due to vasculariza- ● Some distinguish between lymph node hyperpla-
tion, edema or infarction. sia and reactive lymphadenopathy. The former is