Two new studies from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have examined the 2021 outbreak of feline pancytopenia – a rare condition that causes serious illness and, in some cases, fatalities.
Due to the rapid increase of cases at the time, the pancytopenia outbreak caused concern among cat owners and garnered significant media coverage.
The findings of the investigation propose a link between high concentrations of trichothecene T-2/HT-2 mycotoxins (poisonous substances produced by fungi) in many of the tested food samples from recalled batches of cat food – amounts much greater than that recommended by the European Commission.
The first study, appearing in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, describes 580 cats recorded by the RVC’s database during the initial pancytopenia outbreak, the epidemiology of the cases and the link with mycotoxin exposure, which can be severely damaging or even deadly to cats.
The cats presented with severe reductions in vital blood cells, including white blood cells responsible for fighting infection and platelets responsible for blood clotting.
The research recounts how analysis of these cats’ data – provided both by pet owners and vets – revealed three diets had been consumed by the majority of affected cats and how this subsequently led to a UK wide recall in June 2021.
Examining the subsequent analysis of the feed samples and the discovery of mycotoxin contamination, which is known to be toxic to bone marrow and thereby negatively impacting the production of key blood cells, the study concludes that mycotoxin contamination should be considered as the cause of the outbreak.
The second study examines 50 cats identified as having pancytopenia in more depth, providing a detailed picture of clinical findings to better understand the disease process in these cats affected by the outbreak.
Records and data of 50 of the affected cats were assessed to identify additional clinical signs which indicated contact with mycotoxins.
Following examination of the cats’ bone marrow, it was found that all cats suffered a marked toxic insult to their bone marrow.
From this, the study concluded that a differential diagnosis of mycotoxin-induced pancytopenia should be considered in cats presenting with pancytopenia.
Lead authors of the research were Dr Barbara Glanemann, senior lecturer in small animal medicine at the RVC and co-head of the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service at the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, and Dr Karen Humm, associate professor in transfusion medicine and emergency and critical care at the RVC.
Regarding the research, they said: “We know first-hand how much devastation and concern this outbreak caused for many cat owners across the country and so it is our hope that the studies will help people better understand what happened to cause this outbreak and can be used to not only provide some closure to those affected but also reduce the chances of something similar occurring in the future.”