title: Studies of the effect of acemannan on retrovirus infections: clinical stabilization of feline leukemia virus-infected cats.
abstract: Feline leukemia is a disease induced by an oncornavirus infection that inevitably causes clinically affected cats to die. It has been estimated that 40% of cats are dead within 4 weeks and 70% within 8 weeks of the onset of clinical symptoms. Acemannan is a complex carbohydrate with both immunostimulatory and direct antiviral properties. Administration of acemannan for 6 weeks intraperitoneally to clinically symptomatic cats significantly improved both the quality of life and the survival rate. Twelve weeks after initiation of treatment, 71% of treated cats were alive and in good health.
authors.affiliation: Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital, Irving, TX.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sheets
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Giggleman
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Tizard
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005256:Leukemia Virus, Feline; D008351:Mannans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D008351:Mannans; C058414:acemannan