Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), two of the most important pathogens of cats, produce chronic systemic diseases with progressive death of cells involved in the immune response, ultimately leading to death. Immunostimulants is one of the few alternatives to the sy...
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MDPI AG
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1464 |
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| author | Esperanza Gomez-Lucia Victorio M. Collado Guadalupe Miró Sonsoles Martín Laura Benítez Ana Doménech |
| author_facet | Esperanza Gomez-Lucia Victorio M. Collado Guadalupe Miró Sonsoles Martín Laura Benítez Ana Doménech |
| author_sort | Esperanza Gomez-Lucia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), two of the most important pathogens of cats, produce chronic systemic diseases with progressive death of cells involved in the immune response, ultimately leading to death. Immunostimulants is one of the few alternatives to the symptomatic treatment. In this study, 27 naturally FeLV-infected (FeLV+) and 31 naturally FIV-infected (FIV+) cats were administered orally by their owners 60 IU/day of recombinant human interferon alpha (rHuIFN-α) for four months in alternate weeks. Clinical status was evaluated and blood samples collected at four different visits or months (M): pretreatment (M0), mid-treatment (M2), end of treatment (M4), and 4–8 months after end of treatment (M10). Most cats ostensibly improved their clinical status, and many became asymptomatic. rHuIFN-α treatment improved the anemic processes observed at M0 (at least in cats with mild or moderate anemia) and leukocyte counts, including a more favorable CD4+/CD8+ ratio. An increase in the serum gammaglobulin concentration was seen in 80% of the cats. Despite observing an obvious favorable progress in the clinical, biopathological, and CD4+/CD8+ values during treatment, almost invariably all the parameters analyzed worsened after treatment discontinuation (M10), which suggests that the interferon-α protocol should be either extended or include additional cycles for a long-lasting benefit in FeLV+ and FIV+ cats. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:06:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5cd9d9cbd8a45639fcb69f450b2d0d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:06:19Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5cd9d9cbd8a45639fcb69f450b2d0d42023-11-20T10:49:58ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-08-01109146410.3390/ani10091464Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency VirusEsperanza Gomez-Lucia0Victorio M. Collado1Guadalupe Miró2Sonsoles Martín3Laura Benítez4Ana Doménech5Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, José Antonio Novais, 12, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainFeline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), two of the most important pathogens of cats, produce chronic systemic diseases with progressive death of cells involved in the immune response, ultimately leading to death. Immunostimulants is one of the few alternatives to the symptomatic treatment. In this study, 27 naturally FeLV-infected (FeLV+) and 31 naturally FIV-infected (FIV+) cats were administered orally by their owners 60 IU/day of recombinant human interferon alpha (rHuIFN-α) for four months in alternate weeks. Clinical status was evaluated and blood samples collected at four different visits or months (M): pretreatment (M0), mid-treatment (M2), end of treatment (M4), and 4–8 months after end of treatment (M10). Most cats ostensibly improved their clinical status, and many became asymptomatic. rHuIFN-α treatment improved the anemic processes observed at M0 (at least in cats with mild or moderate anemia) and leukocyte counts, including a more favorable CD4+/CD8+ ratio. An increase in the serum gammaglobulin concentration was seen in 80% of the cats. Despite observing an obvious favorable progress in the clinical, biopathological, and CD4+/CD8+ values during treatment, almost invariably all the parameters analyzed worsened after treatment discontinuation (M10), which suggests that the interferon-α protocol should be either extended or include additional cycles for a long-lasting benefit in FeLV+ and FIV+ cats.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1464FeLVFIVinterferontherapyfeline retrovirusclinical outcome |
| spellingShingle | Esperanza Gomez-Lucia Victorio M. Collado Guadalupe Miró Sonsoles Martín Laura Benítez Ana Doménech Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Animals FeLV FIV interferon therapy feline retrovirus clinical outcome |
| title | Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
| title_full | Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
| title_fullStr | Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
| title_short | Clinical and Hematological Follow-Up of Long-Term Oral Therapy with Type-I Interferon in Cats Naturally Infected with Feline Leukemia Virus or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
| title_sort | clinical and hematological follow up of long term oral therapy with type i interferon in cats naturally infected with feline leukemia virus or feline immunodeficiency virus |
| topic | FeLV FIV interferon therapy feline retrovirus clinical outcome |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1464 |
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