Retrospective evaluation of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, monocyte-to-lymphocyte, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in feline panleukopenia infection

Feline panleukopenia infection is a severe and immunosuppressive disease, particularly in young cats. This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in hematological parameters and derived inflammatory indices during the course of feline panleukopenia virus infection. The study included 10 cats confirmed positive for feline panleukopenia virus via a rapid diagnostic test as the infected group, and a control group comprising clinically healthy cats that tested negative and exhibited no signs of illness on physical examination. According to the statistical analysis, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts were significantly lower in Feline panleukopenia infected cats compared to controls (p<0.05). Additionally, within the infected group, the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio on day 0 and day 3 was found to be significantly lower than on day 5 (p<0.05). When comparing the infected and control groups, significant differences were also observed in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, while the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio did not differ significantly between the groups. These findings indicate that a marked suppression of peripheral blood cells occurs during Feline panleukopenia infection and that certain hematological indices may provide valuable insights into the progression of the disease.