The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and other markers of inflammation in cats tested for Leishmania infantum and feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies

Background In endemic areas, Leishmania infantum and feline immunodefciency virus (FIV) co-infection occurs in cats, and may favour a progressive course of feline leishmaniosis. Abnormalities in serum protein fractions have been reported, but infammation markers have scarcely been studied. Erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR) is a marker of infammation that is poorly used in veterinary medicine, but it has been evaluated in EDTA blood using a recently introduced automatic device. We studied ESR and a pool of feline markers of infammation (MoI) in cats L. infantum (Li⁺) and/or FIV antibody-positive (Li⁺FIV⁺FIV⁺) with the aims (a) to evaluate ESR as MoI in cats with the infectious and clinical conditions considered and (b) to provide data about a pool of MoI never investigated in the feline infections studied and in other cat diseases before. Methods This prospective controlled study included 35 study group cats (Li⁺, n=20; FIV+, n=8; Li⁺FIV⁺, n=7) and ten healthy antibody-negative control cats. Clinical fndings at physical examination and selected clinical pathological abnormalities related to infammation were statistically analysed in relation to the infectious status and ESR values. Results ESR values were higher in Li⁺, FIV⁺, and Li⁺FIV⁺ cats compared with control cats, and 40% of the study group cats had ESR values above the reference interval (RI). ESR positively correlated with some positive MoI and negatively with some negative MoI studied. Additionally, a higher prevalence of ESR values above the RI has been detected in cats with hypoalbuminemia or hypergammaglobulinemia and higher ESR values were measured in cats with serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) fraction abnormalities. Correlations were also found with erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit and some erythrocyte indices. FIV⁺ and Li⁺FIV⁺ cats had a higher prevalence of increased ESR values, and almost all had SPE abnormalities and more severe clinical presentations compared with Li⁺ cats. Conclusions Abnormal levels of MoI were found in almost all parameters studied, particularly in FIV⁺ and Li⁺FIV⁺ cats. Also, ESR can be used as a marker of infammation in cats with L. infantum and/or FIV infection.