LOW WBC, but Negative Feline Leukemia test

Hello all, I have been reading your postings to try to find information
out there. It's so nice to hear so many other people who care about
their pets as much as I do. My cat, Simba, hasn't been totally himself
lately so I brought him in for blood tests. The vet said all seems
normal except his WBC is low at 3.3 normal range is above 5. Feline
Leukemia came back negative but she said he could be getting it as it
supposedly hides which could be causing the WBC to be low. Does anyone
have any advice on what else could be causing his WBC to drop. It was
normal 6 months ago. He has lost 1 lbs but that's not a huge weight
decrease. And he is eating normally, just sleeping more and in new
places.
Thank you, Jacquie

Hi there,

Sorry your cat is not feeling so well.

Has the vet ruled out feline distemper, which is the panleukopenia
virus? Usually the cat also has vomiting and diarrhea, but that is a
cause of low WBC too.

I did a google search, and sounds like FIV (feline aids,) could also
start with a low WBC. Here is a website someone wrote about their
experience, and the stages/symptoms:

http://www.byarden.com/pets/fofiv.html


Good luck to Simba,

Rhonda




wrote:

Hello all, I have been reading your postings to try to find information
out there. It's so nice to hear so many other people who care about
their pets as much as I do. My cat, Simba, hasn't been totally himself
lately so I brought him in for blood tests. The vet said all seems
normal except his WBC is low at 3.3 normal range is above 5. Feline
Leukemia came back negative but she said he could be getting it as it
supposedly hides which could be causing the WBC to be low. Does anyone
have any advice on what else could be causing his WBC to drop. It was
normal 6 months ago. He has lost 1 lbs but that's not a huge weight
decrease. And he is eating normally, just sleeping more and in new
places.
Thank you, Jacquie

Hi, thank you. I will check out that site. He actually weighs 7 lbs and
was 8lbs 6 months ago.
So I'm not sure if that is much.
Thanks, Jacquie

That is quite a bit to lose in 6 months, if the cat is not on an
enforced diet.

Let us know what you find out.

Rhonda

wrote:

Hi, thank you. I will check out that site. He actually weighs 7 lbs and
was 8lbs 6 months ago.
So I'm not sure if that is much.
Thanks, Jacquie

Hi again, Simba's brother died of Feline Leukemia last November. They
are both from the same litter. Simba is 9 years old. Is it possible
that he's getting Feline Leukemia now? Or would he have caught it
earlier when his brother had it? He is tested negative but I'm worried
so much as the WBC dropped to 3 and his weight loss? I'm bringing him
in for another checkup tomorrow, no time to waste. But the more
information I have going in to it the better. Any Advice? Can anyone
recommend something to boost his WBC? or something to find out foresure
if it's Leukemia? The Vet said it hides sometimes and even though the
test might be negative but he could still have it. I'm so scared for
him. He's like a little kid!
Thank you, Jacquie

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi again, Simba's brother died of Feline Leukemia last November. They
are both from the same litter. Simba is 9 years old. Is it possible
that he's getting Feline Leukemia now? Or would he have caught it
earlier when his brother had it?

Hi Jacquie,

If Simba had an active FeLV infection, virus or viral antigen would have
been detected when he was tested- the FeLV ELISA is a very sensitive test.
You might want to have him tested for FIV and retested with both FeLV tests:
the ELISA and the IFA on the possiblity that first test wasn't run properly
and produced a false negative result. The IFA will determine if he has an
active bone marrow-origin infection.

You might also want to have some x-rays or ultrasounds done- might help
locate some occult sites of infection that weren't detectable during the
general exam.

If all these tests are negative, a bone marrow aspirate and core biopsy
would be necessary to make sure his bone marrow is producing WBCs and to
rule out bone marrow disorders and immune-mediated neutropenia
(antineutrophil antibodies).



He is tested negative but I'm worried
so much as the WBC dropped to 3 and his weight loss? I'm bringing him
in for another checkup tomorrow, no time to waste. But the more
information I have going in to it the better. Any Advice? Can anyone
recommend something to boost his WBC?

The safest way to increase WBCs while searching for a cause is a whole blood
transfusion. There is also a drug called Filgrastim a/k/a Neupogen that
stimulates bone marrow to increase neutrophil proliferation. However,
Neupogen is human DNA-origin product which means cats can mount an immune
response and develop antibodies that can not only neutralize the Neupogen
but also the cat's native neutrophils. Because of this, the drug can only
be used in short pulses of 3-5 days. I would probably go with a whole blood
transfusion because he may need more than one treatment while you're
searching for a cause. Also, he'll be very susceptible to infections during
this time because a low WBC count increases a cat's susceptibility to
secondary infections. A whole blood transfusion will strengthen his immune
system and help him fight off infections until his own WBCs can take over.

Since you didn't mention fever, speak to your vet about broad-spectrum
antibiotic (trimethoprimsulfadiazine) prophylactically.


or something to find out foresure
if it's Leukemia? The Vet said it hides sometimes and even though the
test might be negative but he could still have it.

A hidden (latent) infection wouldn't cause leukopenia/neutropenia because
the virus doesn't replicate or release P-27 antigen during latency. The
only tests I know of that can detect latent FeLV infections are PCR
(polymerase chain reaction) and the Bone Marrow Reactivation Test. The PCR
is only available in diagnostic labs and the Bone Marrow Reactivation test
takes 7-30 days because bone marrow cells must be cultured. I don't think
either of these tests are necessary right now because a latent infection is
actually dormant and presents no immediate threat.

A very small percentage of cats housed with FeLV-viremic cats develop
sequestered FeLV infections in some nonmyeloid part of the body, but this
type of infection usually releases viral antigens into the blood which are
detectable by ELISA but not IFA. This type of infection often results in
discordances- i.e., ELISA+/IFA-. So, I think a sequestered infection is
also unlikely.

I would tell your vet to run an FIV ELISA and another FeLV ELISA and send a
sample to a lab run the FeLV IFA. I would also order a blood culture to
determine if bacteria or fungus are present in the blood


But first I'd order a whole blood transfusion because a low WBC count leaves
him very susceptible to infections.



I'm so scared for
him. He's like a little kid!
Thank you, Jacquie

I known how you feel. Keep the faith!

Best of luck,

Phil

Hi Phil, thank you so much for your help!!! I have been searching and
searching for info online the past 2 days... I really appreciate this
knowledge before going to the vet this evening. How do you know so
much? Are you a doctor or have gone through similar. If so i"m sorry -
it is so difficult. I wish I would have caught this sooner with my
passed cat, who just passed in November, I don't want to lose my only
baby, Simba.
Thank you so much! Jacquie

Hello- I'm happy to say I've tested SImba for everything - he doesn't
have leukemia or FIV and his kidney seems to be normal. Just low WBC
still and high platlets. Not sure what that could be. His eben eating
more dirt lately, vomitting stomach acid and apparently he has
gingivitis. I'm going to another vet to examin his teeth. Xrays are
normal. Just stumped as to whyhis WBC is low and Platlets high. He's
not anemic. I still might check his bone marrow anyway.
THank u, Jacquie