Title | Lymph node aspirate from a California wine-country dog. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2006 |
Authors | Johns, JL, Strasser, JL, Zinkl, JG, Christopher, MM |
Journal | Vet Clin Pathol |
Volume | 35 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 243-6 |
Date Published | 2006 Jun |
ISSN | 0275-6382 |
Keywords | Anaplasmataceae Infections, Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Biopsy, Fine-Needle, California, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Doxycycline, Lymph Nodes, Male, Neorickettsia |
Abstract | A 4-year-old, male Golden Retriever was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California-Davis with a history of lethargy, inappetance, and vomiting. The patient had generalized lymphadenomegaly, marked thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, and moderate hypoalbuminemia. Moderate to marked histiocytic inflammation and lymphocytic-plasmacytic reactivity of the mesenteric, left popliteal, and right mandibular lymph nodes were diagnosed cytologically. Many macrophages contained granular to amorphous material of a uniform blue color, occasionally in morula formation, suggestive of rickettsial organisms. Exposure to raw trout was subsequently documented, leading to a presumptive diagnosis of salmon poisoning disease (SPD). The patient responded quickly to doxycycline therapy for the causative agent of SPD (Neorickettsia helminthoeca). SPD should be considered as a differential diagnosis for a canine patient with clinical signs of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and lymphadenomegaly; laboratory findings of thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia; and potential exposure to raw fish from an endemic area. The cytologic finding of rickettsial inclusions within lymph node macrophages is reportedly seen within a majority of SPD cases and can be valuable in supporting a clinical suspicion of SPD, as it was in this case. |
DOI | 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2006.tb00123.x |
Alternate Journal | Vet Clin Pathol |
PubMed ID | 16783722 |