Evaluation of clinical and haematological parameters in differentiation of feline immunodeficiency and feline leukemia virus infection

For this retrospective study clinical, haematological and virology parameters were analysed from 21 cats received at the Clinic for Intemal Diseases of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, with severe clinical signs of 'feline leukaemia, feline immunodeficiency, or both diseases. The cats were of different breeds, different ages and forms of care. The history of the disease, temperature and breathing frequency were recorded for each cat. The presence of specific antibodies for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was detected in serum samples from 10 cats, four females and six males. The presence ofilefine leukemia virus (FeLV) antigen was detected in 8 serum samples, from two females and six males. Three cats were FIV and FeLV positive, all of them male cats. Male cats and those with outdoor access are more often susceptible to infections. FeLV+ and FF+ (FeLV and FIV) cats are generally younger, than FIV+ cats (seven of eight FeLV+ cats are between 1 and 5 yrs old). Differences were noticed between FeLV and FIV positive animals in terms of haematological and biochemical values. Increased values for leukocytes, segmented and non-segmented neutrophils in cats positive for FeLV, FIV or both viruses were mainly determined, as well as a decreased number of thrombocytes, erythrocytes, Hb, HMT and MCV values in the majority of animals studied. In FeLV+ animals alterations in the number of lymphocytes (lymphocytosis and lymphopenia) were more prominent compared to FIV+ animals, in which leucocytosis was more prominent. No relationship between the severity of clinical symptoms and the age and sex of the animals was found.