Relevance of feline interferon omega for clinical improvement and reduction of concurrent viral excretion in retrovirus infected cats from a rescue shelter

Abstract

Feline Immnunodeficiency (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) viruses are common infectious agents in stray cats and shelter environments. Recombinant feline interferon-ω (rFeIFNω) 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 rFeIFNω 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, rFeIFNω improves clinical signs and reduces concurrent viral excretion in naturally infected retroviral cats.

Efficacy of antiviral chemotherapy for retrovirus-infected cats

“…119 In another study evaluating naturally FIV-infected cats housed in a shelter, some clinical improvement was seen with IFN-ω treatment administered at the above-mentioned high dose, but in this study there was no placebo control. 106 Haematological values remained within reference intervals, and there were no biochemical abnormalities asso ciated with IFN-ω treatment (EBM grade III).…”

“…In another study evaluating FeLV-infected cats housed in a shelter, some clinical improvement was noted with IFN-ω treatment using the same dose as described above, but no placebo group was included, precluding a definitive assessment (EBM grade III). 106 No studies have been published so far on the oral use of IFN-ω in FeLV-infected cats.…”

“…104, 106 Type ii iFN, consisting of only iFN-γ, is produced by activated T lymphocytes and natural killer cells in response to their recognition of virus-infected cells. 107 IFNs act in an autocrine or paracrine fashion, 108 inducing an antiviral state in noninfected cells.…”

Interferons: application in veterinary medicine

“…Він навіть одержав неофіційну назву «котячо-го». Клінічна ефективність інтерферону омега у котів була показана при лікуванні захворювань спричинених вірусами лейкемії котів та котячого імунодефіциту [23,29], а також вірусами герпе-су та каліцивірусу [41]. Крім цього, інтерферон омега з успіхом був застосований і для лікуван-ня захворювань собак, зокрема, парвовірусного ентериту [22] та атопічного дерматиту [67].…”

Pathology in Practice

“…5 Diagnostic FHV-1 viral inclusion bodies are seen within the intact epithelium but may not be present when samples are collected from only areas of ulceration. [11][12][13] One study 14 examining the efficacy of valacyclovir was similarly unrewarding and actually resulted in toxic effects in the treated cats with early termination of the study for humane reasons. 1 Treatment of FHV-1 infection in cats is challenging and is often limited to supportive care and treatment of secondary infections.…”