Serum pentraxin 3 levels in cats with feline parvovirus infection

Abstract

Feline parvovirus (FPV) infection continues to be a serious problem in cats and therefore studies are ongoing to investigate all aspects of the disease. This study was designed to determine the levels of PTX-3 in cats with feline panleukopenia (FPL). Blood samples were taken from 12 cats of different breeds and gender with complaints of weakness, listlessness, anorexia, diarrhoea, vomiting and FPV positive on examination and from 7 cats found healthy on physical and laboratory examination. Whole blood, biochemical parameters, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSi), serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) concentrations were determined in both sick and healthy cats. The results showed that there was marked panleukopenia and serum PTX-3 (58.69 pg/mL), SAA (59.91 µg/mL), TOS (14.35 μmol H2O2 Eq/L) and OSi (1.17 arbitrary unit) levels were significantly higher in cats diagnosed with FPL compared to healthy subjects. In conclusion, serum PTX- levels were measured for the first time in cats naturally infected with FPV and found to be elevated. Further clinical studies with large numbers of infected cats are needed to clarify these findings and to use PTX-3 as a reliable biomarker in FPV-infected cats.