Serum amyloid A and Haptoglobin as a prognostic marker in cats with respiratory parasitosis (Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Dirofilaria immitis).

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary nematodes are emerging parasites in feline species in Europe. Historically, these parasites were underestimated due to their presumed low pathogenicity and nonspecific clinical signs, leading to underestimation of their impact. Although Dirofilaria immitis and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus are rarely encountered in veterinary practice, the importance of feline pulmonary verminosis has increased. This has improved veterinarians' understanding of these parasites and their clinical importance, emphasizing the need for better diagnostic methods to differentiate them from other pathologies. Serum acute phase proteins (APP) are sensitive biomarkers of inflammation and are useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of clinical conditions in cats. Serum amyloid A (SAA) is considered an important acute phase protein in the cat and decreases a few hours after the inflammatory stimulus; While haptoglobin is considered a moderate and positive acute phase protein with immunomodulatory properties, its concentration slowly decreases in serum compared to the major acute phase proteins. Both APPs can remain elevated as long as inflammation persists and have proven useful as a prognostic indicator. These biomarkers have shown promising results in studies on D. immitis, but their behavior in A. abstrusus infections has not yet been evaluated. 31 cats that attended the Cardiology Service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria were selected. After diagnosis, the cats were divided into three groups: healthy (A), A. abstrusus infected (B) and D. immitis infected (C), and haptoglobin and SAA levels were evaluated. The results showed that haptoglobin levels were significant for both A. abstrusus and D. immitis infections (p<0.05), while SAA levels were only significant for A. abstrusus (p<0.05). More studies are necessary, but the use of APP combined with the evaluation of antibody levels, clinical signs and complementary diagnostic tests could be useful in the management of diseases such as D. immitis or A. abstrusus.