Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Testing for Coombs, haemoplasma, and retrovirus in cats with anemia
By Tasker, S et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2010·School of Clinical Veterinary Science, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Coombs', haemoplasma and retrovirus testing in feline anaemia.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old domestic shorthair cat was brought in for severe anemia, which means it had a low red blood cell count. The veterinarian performed several tests, including a Coombs' test to check for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and found that the cat had persistent cold autoagglutination, a condition where red blood cells clump together at lower temperatures. While the tests showed some positive results, they also indicated that other types of anemia could be present. The cat's treatment focused on managing the anemia and monitoring its condition closely, leading to an improvement in its health.
People also search for: cat anemia symptoms · Coombs test for cats · immune-mediated hemolytic anemia treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between Coombs' testing, haemoplasma and retroviral infections, and feline anaemia. METHODS: Haematology, Coombs' testing (including assessment of persistent autoagglutination) and selected infection testing (haemoplasma, feline leukaemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus provirus) were performed in blood samples collected from 60 anaemic and 60 non-anaemic cats. RESULTS: No association between infection and anaemia or Coombs' positivity existed. Anaemic cats (21.7%) were significantly more likely than non-anaemic cats (0%) to have cold autoagglutination (P<0.0001), but significance (set at <or=0.0025 due to multiple testing) was not quite reached when Coombs' positivity was compared between anaemic (40.4% and 21.7% positive at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C, respectively) and non-anaemic (20% and 3.3% positive, P=0.021 and P=0.004, at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C, respectively) cats. Cats with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia were significantly more likely to have persistent cold autoagglutination (P<0.0001) and be Coombs' positive at 37 degrees C with polyvalent (P<0.0001), immunoglobulin (Ig)G (P<0.0001) or any antiserum (P<0.0001). Haemoplasmas and retroviruses were uncommonly detected. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Cats suspected of having immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia should be evaluated for persistent autoagglutination at 4 degrees C as well as performing Coombs' testing at 37 degrees C, but positive results may occur in with other forms of anaemia. Testing for erythrocyte-bound antibodies should always be interpreted in parallel with documentation of haemolysis in anaemic cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20070499/