A Rare Case of Spontaneous Splenic Rupture Secondary to Tularemia Following a Cat Bite

Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. More common infectious causes include infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus (CMV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and malaria. We present a case of a 42-year-old male who was admitted with persistent fevers, myalgia, and a recent ulcerative lesion on the base of his left thumb after a cat bite. He developed abdominal and back pains, left axillary lymphadenopathy, and near syncope. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed splenomegaly with subcapsular splenic rupture and large hematoma requiring emergent splenic embolization. Infectious work-up revealed tularemia as a cause which was successfully treated with oral doxycycline. Though not a common cat zoonoses, tularemia should be considered in a patient with splenomegaly or spontaneous splenic rupture in the setting of cat bite.