A Wild Finding in a Lung Aspirate

WUT! This is one of my favorite cases.

A 5 year old cat presented for progressive tachypnea. Radiographic changes were noted (not described), and the lung was aspirated.



YOU. ARE. NOT. SUPPOSED. TO. BE. IN. A. LUNG.

These organisms are protozoal tachyzoites!!

Tachyzoites of toxoplasma, neospora, sarcocystis, or hammondia could all look like this. However, given this is a cat lung, my top suspicion was toxoplasma.

And sure enough, titers confirmed. Diagnosis = toxoplasmosis. Wild case!