The study was designed primarily to examine the effects on inflammation in the airway by measuring the
sputum eosinophil count.
Approximately 30 % of infected cats have
elevated eosinophil counts, although this depends on the phase of the disease when the cat is tested (FIGURE 4).
This test is not specific, since cats with other parasites (intestinal worms, fleas, etc.) or allergies also commonly have
increased eosinophil counts.
My blood tests showed remarkable improvement — my inflammation markers and
eosinophil count dropped significantly, to within normal range.
Subsequently,
eosinophil counts vary but are usually high in dogs with immune - mediated occult infections, especially if eosinophilic pneumonitis develops (< 10 % of total infections).
In cats with respiratory symptoms, asthma or lungworms (17 - 46 % of asthmatic cats have higher than
normal eosinophil counts).
«This discovery now tells us by using a simple blood or
sputum eosinophil count, we can identify which asthma patients can benefit from this new treatment.»
A rare IL33 loss - of - function mutation reduces blood
eosinophil counts and protects from asthma.
«My doctors were worried I had leukemia because I had a high «
eosinophil count» in my blood test.
White blood cell and
eosinophil counts were within normal in nearly all cases, the rare exceptions being no doubt a result of some co-existing but unrelated problem.
In the skin, intestinal and ocular form,
an eosinophil count is usually elevated above 7 %.
That can mask diseases that would have normally increased your pet's
eosinophil count.
An eosinophil count can be measured in cats suspected of harboring heartworms.
An eosinophil count is often performed with a Complete Blood Cell Count (CBC) and serum chemistries during the initial diagnostic workup.