title: Clinical and antiviral effect of a single oral dose of famciclovir administered to cats at intake to a shelter.
abstract: Although famciclovir is efficacious in feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1)-infected cats, effects of a single dose early in disease course have not been reported. In this two part, randomized, masked, placebo controlled study, cats received a single dose of 125 mg famciclovir (n = 43) or placebo (n = 43; pilot study), or 500 mg famciclovir (n = 41) or placebo (n = 40; clinical trial) on entering a shelter. FHV-1 PCR testing was performed, bodyweight and food intake were recorded, and signs of respiratory disease were scored prior to and 7 days following treatment. FHV-1 DNA was detected in 40% of cats in both parts at study entry. In the pilot study, ocular and nasal discharge scores increased from days 1 to 7 in famciclovir and placebo treated cats. Sneezing scores increased and bodyweight decreased in famciclovir-treated cats. The proportion of cats in which FHV-1 DNA was detected increased over time in all cats in the pilot study. In the clinical trial, food intake and median clinical disease scores for nasal discharge and sneezing increased from days 1 to 7 in both groups and demeanor scores worsened in famciclovir-treated cats. The proportion of cats shedding FHV-1 DNA was greater on day 7 than on day 1 in cats receiving 500 mg famciclovir. A single dose of famciclovir (125 or 500 mg) administered at shelter intake was not efficacious in a feline population in which 40% were already shedding FHV-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Electronic address: catvet@purdue.edu.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Litster
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lohr
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bukowy
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thomasy
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maggs
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D002415:Cats; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000077595:Famciclovir; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D018140:Varicellovirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019562:Viral Load / Q000662:veterinary; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D000077595:Famciclovir
keywords: Cat; Famciclovir; Feline herpesvirus; Penciclovir; Shelter