Richter
Fakultäten » Vetsuisse-Fakultät » Departement für Pferde » Ophthalmologie » Prof. Dr. Bernhard M. Spiess » Richter
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Effects of feline interferon omega in cats with keratokonjunctivitis | ||||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | Purpose: To investigate the effect of topical application of feline Interferon omega on clinical signs and results of detection of feline herpesvirus 1 (FeHV-1)-desoxyribonucleinacid (DNA) in cats with keratoconjunctivitis. Animals: Cats with conjunctivitis and/or keratitis referred to the Clinic of Surgery and Ophthalmology of the University of Veterinary Medicine and the Unit of Opthalmology of the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich. Methods: Two different treatment groups were included: Group INF (n=51) received topically one drop (500000 U/ml) of recombinant feline interferon omega three times a day (ter in die, TID) and oxytetracyclinhydrochloride ointment TID. The Control group (n=17) received trifluoridine 1%-eyedrops one drop TID and oxytetracyclinhydrochloride ointment TID. An ophthalmic examination was performed in each cat on the day of the first consultation and samples for cytological examination (n=50), for TaqMan PCR (FeHV-1, Feline Calicivirus) and for PCR (Chlamydophila felis) (n= 67) were collected using a cytobrush. The ophthalmic examination and the TaqMan PCR (if FeHV-1-DNA was detected at the initial presentation) were repeated 2 weeks later. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the parameters of both treatment groups. Using Chi square test the parameters of both groups were compared. The numbers of parameters that were within normal limits in both examinations, improved, worsened or remained equal were counted in both groups. These numbers were compared between both groups using the T-test. The T-test was used to compare FeHV-1-PCR results of both groups. Results: In 6/68 cats (5/51 group INF; 1/17 control group) Chlamydophila felis-DNA was detected; Calicivirus-DNA was not detected by PCR in any sample. There was a significant higher number of parameters that improved and that were within normal limits in the IFN-treated group compared to the control group (p<0.1). There was no significant difference in the number of parameters that worsened or remained equal. In 14/68 cats (11/51 INF group; 3/17 control group) FeHV-1-DNA was detected by TaqMan PCR. Nine of these 14 FeHV-1 DNA positive cats were re-tested 2 weeks later: 5/9 cats were still positive for FeHV-1-DNA (5/6 group INF; 0/3 control group). There was no significant difference between the number of parameters that improved or worsened in the cats that were positive for FeHV-1 comparing both groups. Conclusions: Only in a small number of cats with conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis FeHV-1-DNA was detected. The treatment with recombinant feline interferon omega had a better effect than treatment with trifluoridine on clinical signs. |
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| Publications / Publikationen | pending | ||||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | interferon, keratitis, conjunctivitis, feline herpesvirus, treatment | ||||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Private Sector (e.g. Industry) Virbac |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Oct 2003 to Jun 2006 |