Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Effect of Enterococcus faecium SF68 on cats with latent feline
By Lappin, Michael R et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2009·College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pilot study to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of Enterococcus faecium SF68 on cats with latent feline herpesvirus 1.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Twelve cats with chronic feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) infection were given a probiotic supplement called Enterococcus faecium SF68 to see if it could help reduce their symptoms. These cats often experience ongoing eye and respiratory issues due to the virus. While results varied from cat to cat, the overall findings suggested that the probiotic helped improve health and maintain a stable gut microbiome compared to those who received a placebo. More research is needed to confirm how effective this treatment is in everyday situations.
People also search for: cat herpesvirus treatment · feline herpes symptoms · probiotic for cats with respiratory issues
Abstract
Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) infection is extremely common in cats and is frequently associated with morbidity because of recurrent ocular and respiratory clinical signs of disease. Enterococcus faecium strain SF68 is an immune-enhancing probiotic used as a dietary supplement. In this pilot study, 12 cats with chronic FHV-1 infection were administered either SF68 or a placebo, monitored for clinical signs of disease, monitored for FHV-1 shedding, and evaluated for FHV-1 specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and fecal microbiome stability. Fecal microbial diversity was maintained throughout the study in cats supplemented with SF68, but decreased in cats fed the placebo, indicating a more stable microbiome in cats fed SF68. While clinical results varied among individual cats, the overall findings suggest that administration of the probiotic lessened morbidity associated with chronic FHV-1 infection in some cats. Additional study is warranted to determine efficacy in a clinical setting.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19201238/