title: Natural human interferon-alpha administered orally as a treatment of bovine respiratory disease complex.
abstract: Natural human interferon-alpha (nHuIFN-alpha) from three sources was given orally to 368 calves experiencing a natural outbreak of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). In one study, 200 calves were given one treatment daily for 3 days of placebo or 20, 200, or 2,000 IU of nHuIFN-alpha before shipment. Calves treated with 20 or 200 IU had a significant (p < 0.05) weight gain benefit for the first 21 days in the feedlot, if they had rectal temperatures <40 degrees C when treated with nHuIFN-alpha. In a second trial, 168 mixed-breed calves (five groups randomized to 31-36 calves/group) were treated with one dose of placebo or 200 or 400 IU of nHuIFN-alpha after shipment to the feedlot. Using this regimen, a dose of 200 IU per calf significantly (p < 0.08) decreased the number of sick calves per group and delayed development of BRDC. Results of these studies demonstrate that oral administration of nHuIFN-alpha, which may partially mimic the nasally secreted IFN response reported during BRDC, may be beneficial in cattle.
authors.affiliation: Amarillo Biosciences, Inc., TX 79101-3206, USA. jcummins@amarbio.com
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krakowka
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Rosenquist
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha