Immunoglobulins and acute phase proteins in Van cats - associations with sex, age, and eye colour

Authors: PINAR COŞKUN, VAHDETTİN ALTUNOK, FİLİZ KAZAK, NAZMİ YÜKSEK

Abstract: It was aimed to determine concentrations of plasma immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) and acute phase proteins (?-1 acid glycoprotein, serum amyloid A, ceruloplasmin) and the association of these parameters with age, sex, and eye colour in Van cats. Blood plasma of healthy, forty-seven Van cats (Van Cat Home) fed with standard cat food were involved in the study. Cats were divided into four groups based on age (<1, 2 to 2.5, 3 to 4, > 5) and eye colour (amber-amber, amber-blue, blue-amber, and blue-blue eyes described from left to right), and two groups based on sex (male and female). Plasma IgG, IgA, IgM, ?-1 acid glycoprotein, serum amyloid A, and ceruloplasmin concentrations were determined, and the concentrations were found to be 2.20 ± 0.05 mg/mL, 1.05 ± 0.04 mg/mL, 2.52 ± 0.18 mg/mL, 562.00 ± 14.27 μg/mL, 1.49 ± 0.03 μg/mL, and 2.88 ± 0.13 mg/dL, respectively. Male Van cats had higher IgA levels than the female cats (P < 0.05). α-1 acid glycoprotein concentrations in cats under 1-year-old were higher from that in the other age groups, whereas the significant difference was obtained compared to 2 to 2.5-year-old cats (p < 0.05). IgM concentrations were higher in cats with blue-blue eye colour than in the cats with other eye colours, while statistically significant difference was observed only cats with amber-blue eye colour (p < 0.05). Amber-amber eyed cat plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were higher from that in the other eye coloured cats while significant difference was determined compared to amber-blue eyed cats (p < 0.05). Plasma immunoglobulins and acute phase proteins were determined and the associations of these parameters with age, sex, and eye colour were examined for the first time in Van cats. These data are thought to be important as reference levels in terms of diagnosis and prognosis.

Keywords: Acute phase proteins, eye colour, sex, immunoglobulins, Van cat

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