Cat Scratch Disease Presenting as Multiple Splenic Abscesses in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report from Kuwait

Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a benign, self-limiting disease in immunocompetent children, caused by B. henselae [1]. The organism is commonly found in the blood of cats and other felids, which are considered as the reservoir hosts [1,2]. The transmission to humans occurs via cat saliva or the scratch of a cat. Earlier studies indicated that CSD was largely a disease of children with 54% to 87% of patients being under 18 years of age. However, recent studies have suggested that CSD may be more common in adults than previously recognized [3]. The pathological response to Bartonella species depends substantially on the immune status of the infected host resulting in granulomatous and suppurative infection in immunocompetent individuals, as compared with vasoproliferative response in immunocompromised patients [2].