The feline retrovirus infections – feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) - cause lifelong infections often with chronic disease. To date, treatment has been primarily symptomatic and supportive. These investigators examined the usefulness of interferon as a more specific treatment. Interferon is a protein in the blood that can modify the immune response and that has antiviral capabilities. Interferon-omega is a type of interferon found in cats that has been cloned and synthesized and is commercially available in some countries. Clinical improvement was observed when interferon-omega was used to treat 11 cats with FeLV or FIV. Certain blood parameters, such as amount of red blood cells, also improved. While no antiviral effects were seen, the improved clinical condition of the infected cats support the use of interferon-omega in treating retrovirus-infected cats. [MK]
See also: de Mari K, Maynard L, Sanquer A et al: Therapeutic effects of recombinant feline interferon-omega on feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-infected and FeLV/feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-coinfected symptomatic cats, J Vet Intern Med 18:477, 2004.
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