Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nanoparticle eye drops tested for cat herpesvirus eye infections
By Lappin, Michael et al.·Published in PloS one·2023·From the Translational Medicine Institute, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Nanoparticle ocular immunotherapy for herpesvirus surface eye infections evaluated in cat infection model.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with eye infections caused by the feline herpesvirus (FHV-1) were treated with a new type of eye drop made from immune-activating nanoparticles. These cats showed improvement in their symptoms, such as keratitis and corneal ulcers, within just a few days of starting the treatment. The nanoparticle eye drops were well-tolerated and did not cause irritation, unlike traditional antiviral drops that can be uncomfortable and take longer to work. This new approach could be a promising option for managing eye infections in cats.
People also search for: cat eye infection treatment · feline herpesvirus symptoms · cat keratitis eye drops
Abstract
Ocular herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) infections can trigger conjunctivitis, keratitis, uveitis, and occasionally retinitis, and is a major cause of blindness worldwide. The infections are lifelong and can often recrudesce during periods of stress or immune suppression. Currently HSV-1 infections of the eye are managed primarily with anti-viral eye drops, which require frequent administration, can cause irritation, and may take weeks for full resolution of symptoms. We therefore evaluated the effectiveness of an ocular immune activating nanoparticle eye drop as a novel approach to treating HSV-1 infection, using a cat feline herpesvirus -1 (FHV-1) ocular infection model. In vitro studies demonstrated significant induction of both type I and II interferon responses by the liposome-dual TLR 3/9 agonist nanoparticles, along with suppression of FHV-1 replication. In cats with naturally occurring eye infections either proven or suspected to involve FHV-1, ocular nanoparticle treated animals experienced resolution of signs within several days of treatment, including resolution of keratitis and corneal ulcers. In a cat model of recrudescent FHV-1 infection, cats treated twice daily with immune nanoparticle eye drops experienced significant lessening of ocular signs of infection and significantly fewer episodes of viral shedding compared to control cats. Treatment was well-tolerated by all cats, without signs of drug-induced ocular irritation. We concluded therefore that non-specific ocular immunotherapy offers significant promise as a novel approach to treatment of HSV-1 and FHV-1 ocular infections.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36607992/