Clinically apparent disease caused by primary adenoviral infection is most common in immunologically compromised animals.1,2 In studies of cats in Hungary, Scotland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and the United States, serologic findings indicated adenovirus exposure in 15%, 10%, 20%, 25%, and 26% of cats, respectively.^6,7,7 However, only one case of confirmed disseminated adenovirus infection in a cat has been reported.^4,5 Inclusion body hepatitis reported in a black panther³ was suggestive of adenovirus infection; however, the causative agent could not be confirmed by electron microscopy (EM) or by virologic identification.

In the confirmed case of disseminated adenovirus infection, a comatose, 8-year-old, spayed female, domestic shorthair cat had petechiae on the oral mucous membranes. Abnormal hematologic findings included leukopenia (2100/µL) and thrombocytopenia (73,000/µL). Treatment with intravenous lactated Ringer’s solution, dexamethasone, and vitamin K produced no response. The cat died 4 hours after presentation.

At necropsy, the abdominal cavity and pericardial sac were filled with serous fluid. Serosal and mucosal surfaces of the small and large intestines were diffusely dark red with scattered serosal petechiae, and the intestinal contents were fluid and dark red. The liver and kidneys were swollen, and the liver had an accentuated lobular pattern.

An undiluted sample of serous abdominal fluid was positive for the group-specific antigen (p27) of the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and was negative for antibody to the feline immunodeficiency virus. A specimen of ileum was positive for feline coronavirus by direct fluorescent antibody testing. Result of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for feline panleukopenia virus was negative on specimens of liver, kidney, ileum, mesenteric lymph node, and spleen. An adenovirus particle was identified by EM examination of the intestinal contents.

Histologically, endothelial cells were detached from intramyocardial arteries. These sloughed cells were large, spindle shaped, and occasionally multinucleated (Fig. 13-1). Nuclei of sloughed cells were large and pleomorphic, and many contained intranuclear inclusion bodies. Multiple round eosinophilic inclusions were present in some nuclei, with amphophilic granular inclusions filling other nuclei. Some nuclei were almost filled with well-delineated basophilic inclusions, with margination of the small amount of surrounding chromatin (Fig. 13-1, Inset). Some of these latter nuclei had indistinct borders, resulting in a “smudge cell” appearance. Cytoplasm of sloughed endothelial cells was eosinophilic. Minimal perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes were present in the myocardium.

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