Pure Red Cell Aplasia Associated with Feline Virus Infection in Two Cats

Abstract

We report two cases of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) in feline leukemia virus (FeLV) positive cats, both of which were treated successfully by immunosuppressive therapy. A seven-year-old female cat and a two-year-old male cat both infected with FeLV were brought to us with anorexia. Complete blood count indicated non-regenerative anemia, and bone marrow tests revealed severe hypoplasia of only erythroblasts. The disease was diagnosed as PRCA, and treated by immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin in combination with pulse therapy with methylpredonisolone. PRCA caused by FeLV infection has been reported to be unresponsive to immunosuppressive therapy, but in these cases it was effective. The results might suggest that erythroblast precursor be destroyed due to some immuno-mediated mechanism even in secondary PRCA in FeLV positive cats.