Effects of filgrastim on severe leucopenia associated with feline panleucopenia in cats

Keter Loya; Amatul Muhee; Syed Ashaq Hussain

doi:10.31893/avr.2024009

Keywords:

kitten

Feline parvovirus

WBC

Abstract

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), also known as feline parvovirus, is a highly infectious disease, particularly in kittens. Lethargy, pyrexia, anorexia, and vomiting are the initial clinical symptoms, whereas diarrhea is less common in neonates. The transmission of FPV occurs through direct contact with feces, urine and blood of infected cats. The diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs, leucopenia on a blood smear or complete blood count and a positive fecal parvovirus antigen test (Ag). Leucopenia and neutropenia are adverse prognostic factors for FPL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of filgrastim to increase white blood cell counts in cats with FPV infection. A four-month-old, 3.5 kg female kitten was presented to a Teaching Veterinary Hospital. The cat had been suffering from inappetence, vomiting, diarrhea, and leargy for four days. The kitten had a history of first-dose vaccination with Biofel PCHR (an inactivated vaccine against panleukopenia virus, calicivirus, herpesvirus, and rabies) one week earlier. Initial treatment at a local veterinary hospital included ranitidine, ondansetron, metronidazole, and a probiotic, but showed no improvement. Hematological tests revealed severe leucopenia (WBC: 0.8 × 10³/µL, granulocytes: 4%, lymphocytes: 1%) and thrombocytopenia (platelets: 61 × 10³/µL), with normal RBC, HGB, and HCT levels. FPV was confirmed through a positive rapid immunochromatographic fecal test. The kitten was treated with filgrastim (6 mcg/kg subcutaneously) and supportive therapy, including fluids, amoxicillin-sulbactam, ondansetron, pantoprazole, and vitamin B complex, as the standard dose. The kitten recovered fully. The clinical signs and hematological parameters markedly improved within 7 days, and the cat recovered uneventfully, with a normal appetite, mucous membrane, rectal temperature and improved blood count. WBC (15.7 × 10³/µL), granulocyte (76.5%), lymphocyte (16%) and platelet (171 × 10³/µL) counts were within the normal ranges. In conclusion, the findings suggested that addition of filgrastim to treat feline panleukopenia improved survival rates in cats.
References
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How to cite

Loya, K., Muhee, A., & Hussain, S. A. (2025). Effects of filgrastim on severe leucopenia associated with feline panleucopenia in cats . Applied Veterinary Research, 3(2), 2024009. https://doi.org/10.31893/avr.2024009

[1] Areshkumar, M., Vijayalakshmi, P., Venkatesa Perumal, S., & Selvi, D. (2017). Effect of filgrastim in a severe leucopenia associated parvoviral enteritis in Rottweiler. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 6(4), 1060–1065. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.604.131

[2] Barrs, V. R. (2019). Feline panleukopenia: A re-emergent disease. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 49(4), 651–670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2019.02.006

[3] Felix, N., Vilela, C. L., & Niza, M. M. R. E. (2005). Clinical use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in 7 cats with natural viral panleucopenia infection. Pratique Médicale et Chirurgicale de l’Animal de Compagnie, 40(2), 71–75.

[4] Jakel, V., Cussler, K., Hanschmann, K. M., Truyen, U., König, M., Kamphuis, E., & Duchow, K. (2012). Vaccination against feline panleukopenia: Implications from a field study in kittens. BMC Veterinary Research, 8, 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-8-62

[5] Kizilkaya, B., & Kara, E. (2023). The effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor use in addition to classical treatment on prognosis and blood values in patients with feline panleukopenia. Kocatepe Veterinary Journal, 16(3), 357–364. https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1313752

[6] Kraft, W., & Kuffer, M. (1995). Treatment of severe neutropenias in dogs and cats with filgrastim. Tierärztliche Praxis, 23(6), 609–613.

[7] Kruse, B. D., Unterer, S., Horlacher, K., Sauter-Louis, C., & Hartmann, K. (2010). Prognostic factors in cats with feline panleukopenia. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 24(6), 1271–1276. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0604.x

[8] Mehaba, C. M. (2023). A successfully treatment of feline panleukopenia. Acta Scientific Veterinary Sciences, 5(6), 33–35.

[9] Ogilvie, G. K., Obradovich, J. E., Cooper, M. F., Walters, L. M., Salman, M. D., & Boone, T. C. (1992). Use of recombinant canine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to decrease myelosuppression associated with the administration of mitoxantrone in the dog. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 6(1), 44–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1992.tb00985.x

[10] Otto, C. M., Jackson, C. B., Rogell, E. J., Prior, R. B., & Ammons, W. S. (2001). Recombinant bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI21) for treatment of parvovirus enteritis: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 15(5), 335–360.

[11] Punia, S., Kumar, T., Agnihotri, D., & Sharma, M. (2021). A study on effect of filgrastim in severe leucopenia associated with haemorrhagic gastroenteritis in dog. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 10(16), 868–870.

[12] Saranraj, P., Manigandan, K., Gayathri, K., Nisha, R., & Yuvalakshmi, L. (2024). Molecular detection of feline panleukopenia virus from clinical cases in India. Al-Anbar Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 17(2), 27–33. https://doi.org/10.37940/AJVS.2024.17.2.4

[13] Steinel, A., Parrish, C. R., Bloom, M. R., & Truyen, U. (2001). Parvovirus infections in wild carnivores. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 37(3), 594–607. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-37.3.594

[14] Sykes, J. E. (2014). Feline panleukopenia virus infection and other viral enteritides. In J. E. Sykes (Ed.), Canine and feline infectious diseases (pp. 187–194). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-4377-0795-3.00019-3

[15] Truyen, U., Addie, D., Belák, S., Boucraut-Baralon, C., Egberink, H., Frymus, T., Gruffydd-Jones, T., Hartmann, K., Hosie, M. J., Lloret, A., Lutz, H., Marsilio, F., Pennisi, M. G., Radford, A. D., Thiryn, E., & Horzinek, M. C. (2009). Feline panleukopenia: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 11(7), 538–546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2009.05.002

[16] Tuzio, H. (2021). Feline panleukopenia. In L. Miller, S. Janeczko, & K. F. Hurley (Eds.), Infectious disease management in animal shelters (2nd ed., pp. 337–366). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119294382.ch15

Abstract

References

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