Serum Erythropoietin Changes in Cats with Feline Leukemia Virus-induced Erythroid Aplasia

Abstract
Erythropoietin concentrations were increased significantly (p < 0.025) in nine cats with natural feline leukemia virus infection and associated erythroid aplasia compared to six clinically normal cats. Adult cats experimentally inoculated with the Kawakami-Theilen isolate of feline leukemia virus developed a progressive simultaneous increase in erythropoietin activity and decrease in packed cell volume. These findings indicate that erythroid aplasia associated with feline leukemia virus infection is not caused by a failure in erythropoietin production.