Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 12, 2026
03:46
Author Spotlight: Coproparasitoscopic Examination of Dog Stools for Control and Prevention of Zoonotic Parasite Diseases
Published on: December 15, 2023
4.7K
Cat scratch disease in Medellín, Colombia
Antonio Macías1, Carlos Aguirre2, Alberto Bustamante2
1Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín , Colombia.
Oxford Medical Case Reports
|May 20, 2015
Summary
Cat scratch disease (CSD), a common zoonotic infection, presents challenges in Colombia. This case highlights diagnosis and management of Bartonella henselae infection in a child with chronic lymphadenopathy.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a prevalent zoonosis transmitted by domestic cats.
- Limited epidemiological and clinical data exist for CSD in Colombia.
- Bartonella henselae infection causes subacute or chronic lymph node enlargement after cat scratches.
Observation:
- A preschool boy from rural Antioquia, Colombia, presented with persistent right axillary lymphadenopathy.
- Differential diagnoses for infectious etiologies were systematically excluded.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via Warthin Starry staining of a lymph node biopsy.
Findings:
- The case illustrates a confirmed instance of Cat scratch disease in a Colombian child.
- Bartonella henselae seroprevalence in cats can be as high as 90%.
- Chronic lymphadenopathy was the primary clinical manifestation.
Implications:
- This report contributes crucial data on CSD epidemiology in Colombia.
- Highlights the importance of considering CSD in pediatric lymphadenopathy cases.
- Emphasizes the need for awareness regarding diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies for CSD.
