Оцінка ефективності препарату «Феліферон»® в комплексній терапії інфекційного ринотрахеїту котів

Abstract

Relevance of the topic. Infectious feline rhinotracheitis, like herpesvirus infection is an acute disease characterized by damage to the eyes and respiratory system. Cats of all breeds are ill regardless of age. Kittens can become infected from mothers carrying the virus. In small populations of healthy animals the prevalence of the virus is less than 1 %, while in large populations it can reach 20 %. In shelters, the risk of contamination and infection is higher - up to 50 %. Almost all animals with primary infection become latent carriers throughout their lives. The incidence can reach 55%, the mortality rate is 5 – 25 %. The causative agent - a DNA-containing virus has a tropism for the epithelial cells of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, tonsils, trachea, conjunctiva. Diagnostic methods for detecting latent carriage have not yet been developed, since the virus remains in the form of genomic DNA in the nucleus of latently infected neurons without replication. Laboratory diagnosis of feline rhinotracheitis is currently most often performed by isolating the pathogen or by PCR using swabs from the oral cavity and conjunctiva. The PCR method allows detecting the virus and is the laboratory “gold standard” of diagnostics. Antibodies to the pathogen can be detected using a neutralization test or ELISA in serum, conjunctival mucus and cerebrospinal fluid. Direct methods for diagnosing herpesvirus infection in chronic or latent course have not been developed. For the treatment of viral diseases of small pets, immunomodulators are widely used, which stimulate the immune system. Some drugs tend to induce the production of its own interferon in the body. However, their use often does not give a therapeutic effect due to the peculiarities of the pathogenesis of the disease and the replication of the pathogen. To date, preparations based on the species-specificity of feline interferon have not been available on the domestic market, and attempts to use human interferon for the treatment of viral infections in cats have not yielded the expected result with prolonged and repeated courses due to the formation of neutralizing antibodies in the animal's body.