Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi Early View
Evaluation of Serum MMP-9, IL-8, and Novel Inflammatory Indices (SIRI, AISI, SII) as Prognostic Markers in Feline Infectious Peritonitis with and without Seizure
Zeynep Nurselin KOT1, Umit OZCAN1, Samil Bugra KOSE1, Tunahan KURT1, Zulal Feyza EKER1
1Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Internal Medicine Department, TR-55200 Samsun - TÜRKİYE DOI : 10.9775/kvfd.2026.37010 This study aimed to evaluate serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and hematology-derived inflammatory indices as potential prognostic markers in cats with FIP, with particular emphasis on seizure activity. Forty-eight client-owned cats diagnosed with FIP and 14 healthy control cats were included. Cats with FIP were categorized into three groups: effusive FIP (EFIP, n=11), non-effusive FIP (NFIP, n=30), and non-effusive FIP with seizures (NFIP-S, n=7). Hematological parameters were analyzed to calculate inflammatory indices including dLNR, SIRI, AISI, SII, NLR, and related ratios. Serum MMP-9 and IL-8 concentrations were measured using ELISA. Serum MMP-9 concentrations were significantly higher in cats with NFIP-S group compared with other groups (P<0.05). IL-8 levels were higher in the seizure group but did not differ significantly between groups. Hematology-derived inflammatory indices were significantly elevated in EFIP and NFIP groups compared with controls (P<0.05), whereas NFIP-S group showed values comparable to controls. MMP-9 levels were positively correlated with IL-8 (Spearman"s ρ=0.44, P=0.001). MMP-9 levels were significantly associated with seizure occurrence (OR=1.13, P=0.016). Survival analysis demonstrated significantly shorter survival in the NFIP-S group (P=0.042). Elevated serum MMP-9 in cats with non-effusive FIP and seizures suggests a potential role of MMP-9 mediated blood-brain barrier disruption and neuroinflammation in seizure pathogenesis. MMP-9 may serve as a useful biomarker for neurological involvement and prognosis in FIP. Keywords : Feline infectious peritonitis, MMP-9, IL-8, Seizure, Neuroinflammation, Blood-brain barrier