α1-Acid Glycoprotein and Serum Amyloid A in Three Cats Suspected of Neurologic Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Abstract

Serum levels of acute phase proteins (APPs), such as α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) are considered to be useful indicators for the diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), and elevated levels of these proteins are observed in most cases of FIP. In three cats strongly suspected of neurologic FIP based on feline coronavirus RT-PCR and antibody tests using cerebrospinal fluid, and head magnetic resonance imaging, AGP levels were 460, 480, and 410 μg/ml, respectively, while SAA levels were ＜3.0 μg/ml in all cases, within normal ranges. In addition, there was little change in major hematological and biochemical tests. The above findings suggest that the serum APP levels may not deviate from the normal ranges in cases in which FIP lesions are limited to the central nervous system.