Serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity concentration and seroprevalences of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella species in client-owned cats

Feline pancreatitis is a commonly suspected illness and it has been proposed that some cases of feline pancreatitis may be caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii or Bartonella species. Feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (fPLI) is a test performed on serum that is commonly combined with other clinical findings as an indirect aid in the diagnosis of pancreatitis. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are associations between fPLI concentration and the presence of serum antibodies against T gondii or Bartonella species. Serum samples from 458 cats, for which serum fPLI concentrations had already been determined, were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the presence of T gondii immunoglobulin (Ig) G (IgG) and IgM antibodies, and Bartonella species IgG antibodies. The association between fPLI concentration and T gondii or Bartonella species antibodies was determined. No statistically significant association was found between fPLI concentration and T gondii or Bartonella species antibodies, suggesting that serological tests for the organisms are not useful in cases with increased fPLI concentration.