ABSTRACT
60 A 4-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat presents with a history of 2–3 weeks of variable to poor appetite. On physical examination, the cat is pale and has a mild fever (rectal temp 39.3°C, 102.7°F). The cat has mild splenomegaly detected on abdominal palpation. The cat’s packed cell volume is 22% (expected range 35–45%). Figure 60.1 shows a fresh peripheral blood smear stained with a Romanowsky-type stain (such as Diff-Quik). https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig60_1_C.jpg"/>
i. What do you see in this smear? What is your clinical diagnosis?
ii. Stain precipitates are often confused with epicellular organisms. What microscopic findings support the presence of M. haemofelis on feline red blood cells?
iii. Detection of epicellular bacteria is a specific, but relatively insensitive, diagnostic test for feline infectious anemia. Why is that? What other diagnostic test modalities are available?
iv. What is the main mode of transmission of M. haemofelis between cats?94
