Efficacy of passively transferred antibodies in cats with acute viral upper respiratory tract infection

摘要

A commercial hyperimmune serum, containing antibodies against feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), and feline panleukopenia virus, is available for treatment of cats with feline upper respiratory tract disease (FURTD), but its efficacy has not been rigorously evaluated in scientific studies. The aim of this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of passive immunisation in cats with acute viral FURTD caused by FCV and/or FHV-1 infection. All cats received symptomatic treatment during the study period. Hyperimmune serum was administered to one group (n =22) and an equivalent amount of saline was administered to the control group (n = 20) as placebo, for 3 consecutive days. In the treatment group, cats weeks old received 2 mL, cats >12 weeks old received 4 mL, subcutaneously once daily and topically into eyes, nostrils, and mouth every 8 h. Clinical signs, including a 'FURTD score' and general health status, were recorded daily for 8 days and again on day 21. FCV shedding was determined by quantitative PCR on days 0 and 21.