Cat Scratch Disease: A Bacterial Infection

Abstract

Histopathologic examination of lymph nodes from 39 patients with clinical and pathological criteria for cat scratch disease revealed delicate pleomorphic Gram-negative bacilli in 34 of the 39 nodes. They were within the walls of capillaries in or near areas of follicular hyperplasia and within microabscesses. They were best seen with the Warthin-Starry silver impregnation stain. Organisms in lymph node sections exposed to convalescent serum from three patients and to immunoperoxidase stained equally well with all three samples. The organisms did not react with hyperimmune sera to Legionella pneumophila nor to several species of Rickettsia. These bacilli appear to be the causative agents of cat scratch disease.

Enfermedad por arañazo de gato en paciente pediátrico y revisión de la literatura

“…Una vez transcurrido el periodo de incubación, se manifiestan presentaciones típicas de la enfermedad como: lesiones en piel, siendo la pápula en el sitio de lesión la primera expresión de la enfermedad, hasta la aparición de linfadenopatía de 1 a varias semanas después 3,14 . Dentro de los principales sitios de aparición de esta, se destaca el ser única (85%), afectar la región axilar y nódulos epitrocleares (46%), cabeza y cuello (26%), ingle (17.5%) 15 , aproximadamente el 10% de estas, supuran, se asocia con estados febriles >39°C en un 10% y 1/3 se presentan sin fiebre 15. En el caso de nuestra paciente, el tiempo de aparición de adenopatía submandibular después del contacto con el gato fue de 1 año, sin lesión papular ni presencia de fiebre, previamente descrita.…”

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in a 13-month-old boy with lysinuric protein intolerance

“…Tingible-body macrophages can be appreciated and there is characteristic deposition of pink amorphous intercellular proteinaceous materials. [20] Importantly bacilli stain positive with Warthin-Starry stain in cat scratch disease whereas patients with Kikuchi have a negative WarthinStarrry stain. [20] While hemophagocytosis can be present in all of these diseases, the presence of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow is most consistent with HLH.…”

“…[20] Importantly bacilli stain positive with Warthin-Starry stain in cat scratch disease whereas patients with Kikuchi have a negative WarthinStarrry stain. [20] While hemophagocytosis can be present in all of these diseases, the presence of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow is most consistent with HLH. Furthermore, SLE serologic testing and clinical history can help in narrowing the diagnosis.…”

Cat scratch disease as a rare cause of obstructive jaundice: a case report

“…A recent analysis estimated the number of patients discharged from hospital with this diagnosis at 0.77-0.86 per 100.000 [5]. In 1983, a small bacillus was discovered to cause the illness [6]. The bacillus is generally transmitted by cats (4-9% of family members scratched by the same cat may develop cat scratch disease) and usually results in a dermatologic reaction followed by lymphadenitis of the arms, axilla, or even generalized lymphadenopathy in severe cases, which may persist up to 24 months [4].…”