İnvestigation on acute phase protein concentration in healthy and various diseased cats

Acute phase protein (APP) levels are non-specific variables used in the detection of inflammatory condition in humans and animals. This study aimed to determine acute phase protein concentrations in healthy and various diseased cats. Animal material of this study was composed of 152 cats with different races, ages, genders and diseases, 40 healthy cats brought for routine examination and vaccine, and 8 pregnant cats, being 200 cats in total. The cats involved in the study were grouped into 19 classes with regard to their health conditions considering their histories, clinical examination findings and laboratory results. In addition, acute phase proteins in sick cats were evaluated in terms of disease duration and inflammatory condition. Serum Amyloid-A (SAA), serum α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and serum haptoglobin (Hp) in cat serums were analyzed by using specific commercially available test kits in ELISA reader device, while ceruloplasmin (Cp) analysis was performed by spectrophotometry. In the comparison of serum AFP levels of healthy and sick cats, all AFP values were found to be higher in sick cats when compared to healthy ones, gender did not affect acute phase protein concentrations in healthy cats, while age had an impact on Cp concentration, Cp and Hp concentrations were increased in pregnant cats. It was concluded that these data might be used in determining health status of cats, monitorization of disease-related inflammatory processes and treatment efficacy and might be taken as reference in future studies.