Bulletin "Veterinary biotechnology"

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Veterynarna biotekhnolohiia – Veterinary biotechnology, 2023, 43, 147-157 [in Ukrainian]. https://doi.org/10.31073/vet_biotech43-14

SEVERIN R.V., e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., GONTAR’ A.M., e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., RUBAN V.O., e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., KUSHCH M.M., e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., HLUSHCHENKO Y.V., e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., SHTAGER G.M., e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

State Biotechnological University

 

FEATURES OF THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS RHINOTRACHEITIS CAUSED BY FHV-1 AMONG CATS IN KHARKIV AND IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR TREATMENT METHODS

Introduction. Feline herpesvirus infection, which is part of the group of diseases of the upper respiratory tract (FURTD), is a widespread infectious disease caused by the herpes virus (FHV-1) and is characterized mainly by an acute course and damage to the eyes and respiratory organs. Treatment of infections caused by FHV-1 is challenging. Antiviral drugs can be expensive, their multi-stage application requires maximum attention from specialists and owners. Along with this, such means can cause different clinical reactions in animals. Therefore, the search and development of effective schemes for the treatment of respiratory viruses in cats is always an urgent issue for veterinary specialists.

The goal of the work. To study the features of the spread of infectious rhinotracheitis caused by FHV-1 among cats in Kharkiv, and to develop protocols for their complex treatment.

Materials and methods. The material for research was taken from sick cats with symptoms of upper respiratory tract diseases, which were admitted to veterinary clinics for treatment in Kharkiv. The diagnosis of infectious rhinotracheitis was established by a complex method, which included the collection of anamnesis, clinical and laboratory research. A one-step immunochromatographic express test was used to detect the FHV-1 antigen in swabs from the conjunctival sac of sick cats.

Two schemes were developed for treatment of feline viral rhinotracheitis. For this purpose, 2 experimental groups of cats (n=8) aged 6-10 months were formed according to the pairs-analogues principle. In the treatment scheme, the effectiveness of the specific globulin «Сат-protect-4» in combination with the immunostimulants «Placestim» and «Anfluron» was compared. In order to prevent secondary bacterial infection, the sick animals of the first (A) group were treated with the antibiotic «Sinulox RTU», and the second (B) group were treated with the antibiotic «Veraflox». For the treatment of eyes (conjunctivitis, keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis), the drug «Combichels» was used for sick cats of group A, and the drug «Divopride» was used for animals of group B.

Results of research and discussion. The incidence of infectious rhinotracheitis in cats in Kharkiv among general infectious diseases in 2021-2022 was 30,7%. Kittens aged from 6 months to 1 year were sick more often – 61,7% of cases. The incidence of thoroughbred cats was 56,2%, while outbred cats were sick at the level of 43,8%. Herpesvirus infection of cats was manifested by summer-autumn seasonality – 55 cases (75,3%), much less in the spring-winter period - 18 cases (24,7%). The therapeutic scheme with the use of the specific drug «Сат-protect-4», the immunostimulator «Anfluron», the antibiotic «Verafloks», as well as the means of symptomatic therapy and the vitamin complex «Vitamix» showed higher effectiveness.

Conclusions and prospects for further research. The proposed therapeutic scheme ensured the effectiveness of treatment at the level of 87,5% and the absolute survival rate of all sick animals, since the death of cats during treatment was not observed. Prospects for further research are the development of a domestic specific drug for the treatment of cats suffering from infectious rhinotracheitis.

Keywords: felineviral rhinotracheitis, herpesvirus, spread, diagnosis, clinical signs, treatment schemes.

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