Treatment of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection

FeLV infection is still considered to account for most disease-related deat hs in pet cats. Different treatment attempts with various drugs were perfor med in the past but none resulted in healing or complete virus elimination. Therefore, it caused a sensation when Horber and Mayr [Horber, D., Mayr, B ., 1991. Prax. 19, 311-314; Horber, D., Schnabl, W., Mayr, B., 1992. Tierar ztl. Umschau 47, 556-560; Mayr, B., Horber, D., 1992. Kleintierprax. 37, 51 5-518] published that they were able to cure 80 to 100% FeLV-infected cats from viremia by using an immunomodulating compound. Articles in cat breeder and cat owner journals appeared assuming that obviously there is a rescue for FeLV-infected cats suffering from this deadly infection. The immunomodu lator [Buttner, M., 1993. Comp. Immun, Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 18, 1-10] us ed in those studies was the so-called 'paramunity inducer' PIND-ORF (Baypam un(R), Bayer, Leverkusen, Germany) consisting of inactivated parapox ovis v irus. Since that time, Baypamun(R) is the most commonly used drug for treat ment of FeLV infection in Germany and other European countries. Four placeb o-controlled double-blind trials were performed to determine the therapeuti c efficacy of Baypamun(R) and other compounds in naturally FeLV-infected ca ts under controlled conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.