Fecal S100A12 as a Biomarker for GI Inflammation in Cats

ArticleLast Updated August 20231 min read

Source 

Zornow KA, Slovak JE, Lidbury JA, Suchodolski JS, Steiner JM. Fecal S100A12 concentrations in cats with chronic enteropathies. J Feline Med Surg. 2023;25(3):1098612X231164273. doi:10.1177/1098612X231164273 


Research Note

Fecal S100A12 is a biomarker of intestinal inflammation in dogs with chronic enteropathy that has been associated with severity of endoscopic lesions and response to treatment.  

In this prospective cross-sectional study, 49 cats with GI signs lasting >3 weeks and a complete diagnostic investigation consisting of blood work, abdominal ultrasonography, and upper and/or lower GI endoscopic biopsies were enrolled. Diagnoses included inflammatory bowel disease or chronic inflammatory enteropathy (IBD/CIE; n = 19) and alimentary lymphoma (LSA; n = 30). Nineteen apparently healthy cats were also included.  

S100A12 concentrations in a single fecal sample from each cat were measured and compared. Fecal S100A12 concentrations were higher in cats with IBD/CIE or LSA than in healthy cats. No significant difference in concentrations was noted between cats with IBD/CIE and those with LSA. Further investigation of fecal S100A12 as a biomarker for identification of cats with GI inflammation is warranted.