Blood test changes and sepsis signs in cats with feline panleukopenia

Abstract

Feline panleukopenia (FP) is a fatal viral disease that predisposes cats to sepsis and organ failure. Owing to a wide variety of clinical findings, hematochemical examinations are significant for the determination of early signs of disease-related complications. The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of certain hematochemical parameters together with quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) in cats with FP. A total of 10 healthy and 30 panleukopenic cats were included in this study. Physical examinations revealed that the body temperature was highest in septic panleukopenic cats (p < 0.009) and they had higher qSOFA scores (p = 0.000). Hemogram analysis revealed that leukocyte, lymphocyte, granulocyte, erythrocyte, and hemoglobin levels were lower in non-septic panleukopenic cats compared with the healthy ones (p < 0.030). Also, monocyte and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels were lower in septic ones (p < 0.048). Serum biochemistry profiling revealed higher blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, and C-reactive protein levels in panleukopenic cats (p < 0.033). As a result, it was concluded that although the qSOFA is not sufficient to distinguish sepsis in cats, unlike dogs, in order to achieve a positive clinical outcome, when evaluated together with hematochemical variables, it may help in making early diagnosis of FP-related complications.