New antiviral agents being developed with application to feline clinic
al practice are designed to combat a number of infections, including f
eline herpes virus infection, feline infectious peritonitis virus, fel
ine leukemia virus, and feline immunodeficiency virus. Because viruses
are more intimately involved than bacteria with the host cell and hav
e fewer distinct enzymatic and replicative functions, drugs that selec
tively inhibit these activities have proven difficult to develop. Info
rmation on in vivo and in vitro work with antiviral agents is reviewed
.