Arthritis in cat scratch disease: an unusual manifestation
Authors
Agna Neto; Carina Lopes; Joana Vasconcelos; Ana Filipa Mourão; Manuela Costa; Rita de Sousa; Susana Peres; Jaime Cunha Branco;
Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a zoonosis caused by Bartonella henselae, which is usually transmitted to humans through scratches or bites from infected cats. It is primarily a disease of children and adolescents, although it can affect individuals of any age. In approximately 10% of cases, patients can present atypical manifestations that may involve the musculoskeletal system.
Herein, we report a case of a healthy 51-year-old man that developed low-grade fever and regional lymphadenopathy, followed by erythema nodosum and oligoarthritis. He had been scratched and bitten by his cat before the onset of symptoms. The diagnosis was confirmed serologically by the presence of high titers of specific IgG antibodies. Bartonella henselae was also detected in the blood of the owner's cat by PCR and DNA sequencing.
Agna Neto
Rheumatology Department, Hospital Central do Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School.
Carina Lopes
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
Joana Vasconcelos
Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Filipa Mourão
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
Manuela Costa
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
Rita de Sousa
Centro de Estudos de Vectores e Doenças Infecciosas, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
Susana Peres
Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
Jaime Cunha Branco
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
Rheumatology Department, Hospital Central do Funchal, Madeira, Portugal; Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School.
Carina Lopes
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
Joana Vasconcelos
Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Filipa Mourão
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
Manuela Costa
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
Rita de Sousa
Centro de Estudos de Vectores e Doenças Infecciosas, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
Susana Peres
Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal
Jaime Cunha Branco
Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Lisbon, Portugal; Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School
