Effects of orally administered raltegravir in cats with experimentally induced ocular and respiratory feline herpesvirus-1 infection.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effects of orally administered raltegravir in cats with experimentally induced ocular and respiratory feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection.

ANIMALS:

14 healthy 6-month-old unvaccinated specific pathogen-free cats.

PROCEDURES:

On day 0, all cats were experimentally inoculated by topical application of 0.1 mL of a solution containing 106 plaque-forming units of FHV-1 strain FH2CS to the inferior conjunctival fornix of each eye. Cats were randomly assigned to receive either raltegravir (80 mg; n = 7) or lactose (250 mg; vehicle; 7), PO, every 12 hours for 14 days beginning on day 1. Cats were assigned clinical ocular and respiratory disease scores every other day from days 0 to 30. Conjunctival swab specimens were collected for detection of FHV-1 by virus isolation and real-time PCR assay at 3-day intervals from days 0 to 30. Confocal microscopy was performed on days 0 and 10 to assess corneal epithelial leukocyte infiltration. The assessed variables and duration of FHV-1 shedding were compared between the 2 treatment groups.

RESULTS:

Cats in both groups developed moderate to severe conjunctivitis and ulcerative keratitis characteristic of FHV-1 infection. Median duration of FHV-1 shedding was shorter and signs of ocular and respiratory disease were less severe for raltegravir-treated cats than for vehicle-treated cats. However, the mean conjunctival FHV-1 titer and corneal epithelial leukocyte count did not differ between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Results suggested orally administered raltegravir might be effective for alleviation of ocular and respiratory signs of FHV-1 infection in cats. (Am J Vet Res 2019;80:490-497).

• Authors: Chloe B Spertus, Matthew R Pennington, Gerlinde R Van de Walle, Zachary I Badanes, Bonnie E Judd, Hussni O Mohammed, Eric C Ledbetter
• Journal: American journal of veterinary research (Am J Vet Res) Vol. 80 Issue 5 Pg. 490-497 (May 2019) ISSN: 1943-5681 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31034270 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Veterinary, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Raltegravir Potassium

Topics

• Animals
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Cat Diseases (drug therapy, virology)
• Cats
• Conjunctivitis, Viral (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Herpesviridae Infections (drug therapy, veterinary)
• Raltegravir Potassium (therapeutic use)
• Random Allocation
• Respiratory Tract Infections (drug therapy, veterinary, virology)
• Single-Blind Method
• Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
• Varicellovirus