Author(s): Gil, Solange ; Leal, Rodolfo O. ; Duarte, Ana ; McGahie, David ; Sepúlveda, Nuno ; Siborro, Inês ; Cravo, Joana ; Cartaxeiro, Clara ; Tavares, Luís M.
Date: 2013
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/7210
Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
Subject(s): Feline immunodeficiency virus; Feline Leukemia Virus; Interferon; Therapy; Shelter; Feline herpesvirus; Feline coronavirus; Feline calicivirus
Feline Immnunodeficiency (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) viruses are common infectious agents in stray cats and shelter environments. Recombinant feline interferon-x (rFeIFNx) has shown an antiviral action not only against FIV and FeLV but also against herpesvirus (FHV-1) and calicivirus (FCV). Sixteen naturally infected FIV/FeLV cats were followed during rFeIFNx therapy in order to monitor clinical signs and to correlate with excretion of concomitant viruses (FCV, FHV-1, feline coronavirus (FCoV) and parvovirus (FPV)). Cats were submitted to clinical evaluations and concomitant virus excretion assessement. Comparing D0–D65, 10/16 cats improved clinical scores. Of the 10 cats positive for FHV-1 on D0, 4 were negative and 6 reduced viral loads. Of the 11 FCoV positive cats, 9 reduced viral loads. The 13 FCV positive cats and the FPV positive cat were negative on D65. In conclusion, rFeIFNx improves clinical signs and reduces concurrent viral excretion in naturally infected retroviral cats.
