Hematological and biochemical aspects of cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia

Abstract

Considering the importance and severity of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infections, information on laboratory abnormalities can determine the prognosis of infected cats. This study aimed to determine the laboratory alterations of domiciled asymptomatics cats naturally infected by FIV and/or FeLV in Northeastern Brazil. Blood samples from 200 cats were evaluated by nested-PCR and commercial immunochromatographic test for diagnosis of these infections. Complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry analyses were performed to evaluate laboratory abnormalities. CBC and biochemical values of cats tested positive for FIV and/or FeLV were tabulated for the presence or absence of changes and analyzed using the chi-square test with Yates correction or Fisher’s exact test for each variable, with a confidence interval of 95%. The total frequency was 6% (12/200) and 3% (6/200) for FIV and FeLV, respectively. The presence of hyperbilirubinemia (total, direct, and indirect) was the only change observed in cats positive for FIV compared to FIV-negative controls (p<0.05). We believe that laboratory changes compatible with immunosuppressive conditions should be more frequent in FIV/FeLV positive cats that already present clinical signs of the disease.

Keywords

• bilirubin, retroviruses, fiv, felv