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Updated: Jul 15, 2025
Measurement of Chitinase Activity in Biological Samples
Published on: August 22, 2019
Chitinase-1 Activity in Serum of Cats with FIP
Angelica Stranieri1, Gabriela Ávila Morales1, Laura Brusasco1
1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Insights
Serum chitotriosidase (CHIT1) activity is elevated in cats with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This finding suggests CHIT1 may help identify sick cats and those with FIP, warranting further research.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chitotriosidase (CHIT1) is an enzyme secreted by activated macrophages.
- Macrophages play a role in the pathology of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
- No previous studies have reported on CHIT1 activity in cats diagnosed with FIP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a preliminary investigation into potential alterations in serum CHIT1 activity in cats suffering from FIP.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from clinically healthy cats, cats with FIP, and cats with other conditions potentially involving macrophage activation.
- Chitotriosidase (CHIT1) activity was quantified using a validated assay.
- Assay precision and linearity were preliminarily assessed.
Main Results:
- Cats with FIP exhibited the highest serum CHIT1 activity, followed by sick cats, and then clinically healthy cats.
- The observed differences in CHIT1 activity between groups exceeded the assay's imprecision.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated CHIT1 can distinguish between sick and healthy cats, and to a lesser extent, FIP-affected cats from others.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum CHIT1 activity may serve as a potential biomarker for identifying sick cats, including those with FIP, within a relevant clinical context.
- Further large-scale, standardized studies are necessary to fully elucidate the diagnostic and prognostic value of CHIT1 testing for FIP.
Background:
Chitotriosidase (chitinase 1 or CHIT1) is secreted by activated macrophages. Macrophages are involved in the pathogenesis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). No reports on CHIT1 activity in cats with FIP are available.
Objective:
To preliminarily investigate the possible changes in serum CHIT1 activity in cats with FIP.
Methods:
CHIT1 activity was measured in serum samples from clinically healthy cats (n = 17), cats with FIP (n = 19) and cats with diseases potentially characterized by macrophage activation (n = 20), after a preliminary assessment of the imprecision and linearity of the method.
Results:
The highest CHIT1 activity was found in cats with FIP, followed by sick cats and clinically healthy cats. The magnitude of the differences between groups was higher than the intra- and inter-assay imprecision of the method (<5% and >57%, respectively). Based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, CHIT1 may differentiate sick from clinically healthy cats and, to a lesser extent, cats with FIP from cats without FIP.
Conclusions:
CHIT1 activity may identify sick cats and, within the appropriate clinical context, cats with FIP, although larger and more standardized studies, coupled with additional information on analytical performances of the method, are required to fully explore the diagnostic or prognostic potential of this test for FIP.
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