SPINAL LYMPHOSARCOMA AND DISSEMINATED MASTOCYTOMA ASSOCIATED WITH FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTION IN A CAT

The course of naturally acquired infection with feline immunodeficienc y virus was monitored in a cat over an 18-month period after diagnosis . The cat was admitted with diarrhea, poor body condition, a bite woun d abscess, gingivitis, chronic fever, and splenomegaly. The cat's cond ition improved after splenectomy and remained stable for approximately 15 months, then began to deteriorate, as gingivitis, polyuria, polydi psia, pyrexia, multiple cutaneous masses, and hind limb paresis develo ped. The in vitro response of the cat's lymphocytes to mitogens was su ppressed, and absolute lymphocyte counts were low. Spinal lymphosarcom a, disseminated mastocytoma, and presumptive diabetes mellitus were di agnosed after euthanasia. Decreased immune surveillance associated wit h feline immunodeficiency virus-related immunosuppression possibly pla yed a role in the development of neoplastic disease in this cat.