Hematology and serum biochemistry of feline immunodeficiency virus-infected and feline leukemia virus-infected cats

Abstract

Background: Hematological and biochemical values in cats naturally infected by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are not completely documented.

Objective: Report differences in laboratory values between FIV- or FeLV-infected and noninfected and between FIV- and FeLV-infected cats.

Animals: Three thousand seven hundred and eighty client-owned cats tested for FIV and FeLV.

Methods: Retrospective study. Evaluation of clinicopathologic changes in cats with defined FIV and FeLV status and for which laboratory data were available.

Results: FIV-infected cats were more likely to be neutropenic (odds ratio [OR]=3.6, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.1-6.2, P < .0001) and had lower serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase and glutamate dehydrogenase than control cats; serum total protein (8.1 +/- 1.1 versus 7.6 +/- 1.3 g/dL, P < .001) and gamma-globulin concentrations (2.2 +/- 1.1 versus 1.7 +/- 1.3 g/dL, P < .001) were higher than in uninfected cats. Compared with controls, FeLV-infected cats had a higher risk of anemia (OR = 3.8, 95% CI 2.4-6.0, P < .0001), thrombocytopenia (OR = 5.0, 95% CI 3.0-8.4, P < .0001), neutropenia (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 2.1-6.1, P < .0001), lymphocytosis (OR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.6-4.8, P= .0002), and lower erythrocyte counts (6.13 +/- 2.95 x 10(3) versus 8.72 +/- 2.18 x 10(3)/microL, P < .001), thrombocyte counts (253.591 +/- 171.841 x 10(3) versus 333.506 +/- 156.033 x 10(3)/microL, P < .001), hematocrit (28.72 +/- 12.86 versus 37.67 +/- 8.90%, P < .001), hemoglobin and creatinine concentration.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Hematologic abnormalities are common in FeLV-infected but not in FIV-infected cats. Clinicopathologic abnormalities are less frequent in FIV-infected cats and might reflect an unspecific immunologic response.