title: Evaluation of different antiretroviral drug protocols on naturally infected feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) cats in the late phase of the asymptomatic stage of infection.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the antiretrovirals: Zidovudine (ZDV) alone; ZDV + Recombinant Human Interferon-α (rHuIFN-α); ZDV + Lamivudine (3TC) and ZDV + valproic acid (Valp) on naturally feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats, in the late phase of the asymptomatic stage of infection. The follow-up was performed over one year, through clinical evaluation and the determination of viral loads and CD4+/CD8+ ratios. Neurological signs were studied by visual and auditory evoked potentials (VEP, AEP) and the responses were abnormal in 80% of the FIV-infected cats. After one year, an improvement in VEP and AEP was observed in the ZDV + Valp group and a worsening in the group receiving ZDV + rHuIFN-α. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio showed a significant increase (both intra and inter-groups) only in ZDV and ZDV + 3TC, between their pre-treatment and one year values, as well as among the other groups. Viral load only showed a significant decrease in ZDV and ZDV + 3TC groups, when comparing the values at one year of treatment vs. pre-treatment values and when the different groups were compared. In addition, the viral load decrease was significantly more pronounced in the ZDV + 3TC vs. ZDV group. We conclude that ZDV and ZDV + 3TC produce significant reductions in viral load and stimulate a recovery of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, compared with the other protocols. It is clear that the addition of 3TC resulted in a greater reduction in viral load than use of ZDV as a single drug. Therefore, the combination ZDV + 3TC could be more effective than the sole use of ZDV.
authors: Service of Electrophysiology, Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital of the University of Buenos Aires, San Martín Av. 4453, CP 1427, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ngomez@fvet.uba.ar
authors: Nélida V
authors: NV
authors: Gómez
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Fontanals
authors: Víctor
authors: V
authors: Castillo
authors: María A
authors: MA
authors: Gisbert
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Suraniti
authors: Graciela
authors: G
authors: Mira
authors: Paola B
authors: PB
authors: Pisano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D016181:Feline Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine; D015215:Zidovudine