Feline Panleukopenia - Effects of Treatment with Filgrastim on Mortality, Hematological and Biochemical Parameters

Abstract

Background: Panleukopenia is a highly contagious and fatal disease of cats. Although infection may be prevented by intensive vaccination of animals in the home environment, infection is frequently seen in stray animals that are not vaccinated and are in contact with the virus. Treatment protocols in the disease consist of classical supportive therapies because there is no specific antiviral drug. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Filgrastim administration on mortality, complete blood count, and serum biochemical parameters in the treatment of cats infected with Feline Panleukopenia Viruses (FPV).
Materials, Methods & Results: The study population consisted of 2-6 months old cats of different breeds and sexes who were brought to our clinic with complaints of lethargy, anorexia, high fever, diarrhoea and vomiting. A complete blood count was taken from the symptomatic patients during physical examination and FPV Ag test was performed. Fourteen cats with positive FPV antigen test and 7 healthy cats with negative FPV Ag test without clinical symptoms were included in the study. The study included 7 Panleukopenia-infected cats treated with Filgrastim in addition to conventional supportive therapy, 7 Panleukopenia-infected cats treated with conventional supportive therapy, and 7 healthy cats. Complete blood count and serum biochemical parameters were analyzed from the samples taken from the patients on days 0, 3 and 7. As a result of the treatment, the mortality rate was 14.28% in both groups. In this study, it was observed that the administration of Filgrastim (Group 1) had statistically significant results on WBC (P < 0.009), lymphocytes (P < 0.009) and granulocytes (P < 0.003) between days 0 and 7 in cats with FPV. This suggests that the administration of Filgrastim in addition to supportive therapy increases the number of lymphocytes and granulocytes. The administration of Filgrastim as an adjunct to supportive therapy had no effect on the serum biochemistry values of the patients. In conclusion, the administration of Filgrastim in the treatment of panleukopenia did not result in a change in the mortality rate.
Discussion: The incidence of FPV decreases as the age of the animal increases. In cats aged 3-5 months, the amount of antibody from the mother decreases. In this study, it was determined that the age of all FPV Ag positive cats included in group 1 and group 2 was 2-6 months. It has been reported that there may be a rapid increase in neutrophil counts in cats with FPV treated with filgrastim. In this study, it was observed that the use of Filgrastim (Group 1) in cats with FPV produced statistically significant results on WBC, lymphocytes and granulocytes between days 0 and 7. This shows that the use of Filgrastim in addition to supportive therapy increases the number of lymphocytes and granulocytes. The incidence of FPV decreases as the age of the animal increases. In cats aged 3-5 months, the amount of antibody from the mother decreases. In this study, it was determined that the age of all FPV Ag positive cats included in group 1 and group 2 was 2-6 months. Serum biochemistry parameters are not specific for FPV. Hypoalbuminaemia is the most common abnormality, probably due to decreased protein intake and leakage from mucosal lesions into the gastrointestinal tract. Similar to the literature, no significant change was observed in biochemical parameters. In addition, serum biochemical examinations have shown that Filgrastim can be administered to cats without any side effects. Before administering an immune modulator such as G-CSF, the stage of the disease and the status of the immune system should be taken into consideration.

Keywords: panleukopenia, filgrastim, granulocyte colony stimulating factor, feline parvovirus infection