Serum acute phase proteins in Dirofilaria immitis and Wolbachia seropositive cats
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
Volume 19, Issue 6, 1 June 2017, Pages 693-696
Silvestre-Ferreira, A.C., Vieira, L., Vilhena, H., Cerón, J.J., Tvarijonaviciute, A., Montoya-Alonso, J.A., Carretón, E., Pastor, J.
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterise the response of acute phase proteins (APPs) in cats seropositive for Dirofilaria immitis and to its endosymbiont bacterium Wolbachia. Methods: The APPs serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp) and ceruloplasmin (Cp) were measured in 25 seropositive cats and in 16 healthy seronegative cats. Results: SAA and Cp concentrations were significantly higher in animals with D immitis seropositivity that exhibited clinical signs related to the disease, and Hp was elevated in all D immitis-seropositive animals. There was no significant correlation between APPs and D immitis or Wolbachia species antibody titres. Conclusions and relevance: An association between feline seropositivity to D immitis and APP response was demonstrated. Increases in serum SAA and Cp concentrations were related to D immitis-associated clinical signs, whereas Hp increased in all seropositive animals.
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