Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline parvovirus outbreak and interferon treatment effects on cat
By Paltrinieri, Saverio et al.·Published in Veterinary immunology and immunopathology·2007·Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Italy·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Evaluation of inflammation and immunity in cats with spontaneous parvovirus infection: consequences of recombinant feline interferon-omega administration.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of kittens in a cattery developed an outbreak of feline panleukopenia, a serious disease caused by feline parvovirus. To help protect them, the kittens were given a treatment called recombinant feline interferon-omega (rFeIFN) for three days. While the treatment did not significantly change the timing of when symptoms appeared or the overall survival rate, it did lead to higher levels of certain antibodies in the kittens, suggesting it may help boost their immune response. The study suggests that giving rFeIFN to pregnant cats could help improve the immunity passed to their kittens, potentially protecting them from infection in contaminated environments.
People also search for: kitten parvovirus treatment · feline panleukopenia prevention · rFeIFN for kittens · boosting kitten immunity
Abstract
Administration of recombinant feline interferon-omega (rFeIFN) has been proposed for the prophylaxis of canine and feline parvovirosis. In the present study, the influence of the administration of rFeIFN on blood markers of inflammation (alpha-globulins, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein) and immune system activation (gamma-globulins, IgG, IgM, specific anti-feline parvovirus IgG or IgM) was evaluated in a cattery developing an outbreak of feline panleukopenia due to feline parvovirus (FPV) infection few days after initial administration of rFeIFN. Kittens (n=23) were injected with rFeIFN (1MU/kg subcutaneously, once a day for 3 days) and their blood parameters were compared with those of 17 untreated cats. Cats that survived the outbreak were vaccinated and re-sampled 1 month after the last rFeIFN administration. Time of emergence of clinical signs and survival rate were not significantly different between the two groups. Controls and treated cats surviving the infection had high levels of gamma-globulins, total- and anti-FPV specific IgGs, likely due to passive transfer of maternal immunity. Compared to controls, treated kittens had lower levels of alpha(1)-globulins and higher mean values of gamma-globulins and immunoglobulins. Data from samples collected after vaccination revealed a higher level of gamma-globulins, total- and anti-FPV specific IgGs in treated kittens, compared with controls, suggesting that rFeIFN stimulates antibody production. Based on this results, rFeIFN should be administered to the queen, to increase passive maternal immunity, or to kittens before introduction in a potentially contaminated environment.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17521745/