Abstract
A complete blood count conducted on a five-year-old mongrel cat with a history of anorexia and depression showed severe anemia and leukocytosis. Results of a test for feline leukemia virus antigens were positive in the peripheral blood. An examination of smears of peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate showed increased numbers of blastic cells. A cytochemical reaction test for nonspecific esterase yielded positive results, and the reaction was blocked by sodium fluoride. On the basis of the French-American-British acute-leukemia classification, this case was diagnosed as acute monocytic leukemia, M5a. In spite of whole-blood transfusions and chemotherapy, the cat died 14 days after referral.
