Archívy Všeobecné články - Page 4 of 4

25. 5. 202129. 3. 2023

The Story About Supplements for Pets like Cats

6. April 2021
Niels C. Pedersen, DVM PhD
Original article: The Story About Supplements for Pets like Cats

The use of supplements for dogs and cats is becoming more common, which reflects the trend of using supplements for humans. I have also noticed that many cat owners use numerous supplements to support the treatment of FIP with GS-441524. I strongly feel that these supplements have no effect and cost the owners a huge amount of money. Some owners decide to take the supplements themselves, but in some cases they use them on the advice of their veterinarians. People also rely on supplements in those parts of the world where there is a lack of veterinary care. In many cases, they are "prescribed" to prevent, slow down or reverse specific medical conditions. In fact, they are often used just to do something, and even if they don't work, at least they don't hurt. In some cases, it is sufficient to indicate that a particular authority "needs some form of assistance". A significant proportion of test panels performed even in healthy animals will show one or more suspicious values, especially in the blood, liver or kidneys. Such values should not be used as a reason for prescribing or selling supplements. As a person who believes in scientific methods and clinical trials aimed at ensuring safety and efficacy, I cannot in good conscience recommend owners to use untested over-the-counter supplements that they claim to prevent, alleviate or treat diseases.

I am aware of the many testimonies that exist on the web that prove the effectiveness of a wide range of products. However, there are also many articles from reputable sources that support my beliefs. I quote excerpts from such articles below.

McKenzie B. Top Ten Pet Supplements: Do They Work? Science Based Medicine, May 19, 2011. https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-top-ten-pet-supplements-do-they-work/.

The torment of the rich

"Much has been written about the nutritional supplements business, the billions of dollars-long industry with strong political ties, and the deplorable inadequacy of regulation, which allows for extensive marketing of supplements without a solid scientific basis or scientific evidence. …………. . The marketing used to promote these supplements, of course, goes beyond anything justified by real scientific evidence and is almost generally unreliable. Likewise, testimonies and anecdotes about their effects, whether from patients, pet owners, veterinarians or Nobel laureates, are just stories that have almost no probative value. And since most good medical ideas will not eventually become a real and effective clinical therapy, it is likely that many of these even more attractive products will prove ineffective or cover unknown risks. Without adequate supporting evidence and effective quality control, regulation and post-market surveillance, we can never be sure that by using them, we are helping and not harming our patients. "

Finno CJ. Veterinary supplements for animals and nutraceuticals. Nutr. today. 2020; 55 (2): 97-101. doi: 10.1097 / nt, 0000000000000399. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7802882/.

"Claims about the effectiveness of many pet supplements and nutraceuticals are often based on subjective evaluation methods, including owner reviews, when they have not been rigorously tested in well-designed clinical trials and published in professional journals and should therefore be viewed with skepticism. Although the results extrapolated from studies performed in humans or rodent models are valuable for interspecies comparisons, they do not take into account the different pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of different species. Furthermore, many pet supplements and nutraceuticals are consumed orally, and the bioavailability of orally administered drugs varies greatly between species. Consumers should also be advised to be skeptical of in vitro test-based marketing claims. For example, many of the declared benefits of joint supplements for pets are based on in vitro tests, which often rely on very high doses applied directly to cartilage explants or cultured chondrocytes. "

Pet Nutrition Alliance. How are animal nutritional supplements regulated? https://petnutritionalliance.org/site/pnatool/how-are-dietary-supplements-for-animals-regulated/.

Answers:

As far as animals are concerned, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in the United States, regulates two classes of products: food and medicine. Depending on the intended use, the animal nutritional supplement is considered to be a food or medicine. There is no separate category for "supplements" for animals.
The Health Supplements Act (DSHEA) of 1994 defined the term 'food supplement', but did not specify whether the definition applied to humans, animals or both. The main benefit of DSHEA has been the reclassification of certain regulated food ingredients into food additives that require approval before being placed on the market.
In 1996, CVM published a notice in the Federal Register explaining that DSHEA did not apply to animal products.
Federal laws and regulations simply do not know the category of animal products called "nutritional supplements." Depending on the intended use, the product is either a food or a drug regulated by the FDA.
Many owners buy products for their pets for human use. It is important to know that manufacturers of human nutritional supplements may not provide the FDA with evidence that their supplements are effective or safe. However, they are not allowed (knowingly) to place dangerous or ineffective products on the market.
As soon as a nutritional supplement is placed on the market, the FDA must prove that the product is not safe in order to limit or withdraw it from the market.
On the contrary, before manufacturers can get a drug on the market, they must obtain FDA approval by providing convincing evidence that it is safe and effective.
Some supplements that are safe for humans can be toxic to dogs or cats. Therefore, it is essential that pet owners consult their veterinarians before administering the supplement to their pet.

22. 5. 202129. 3. 2023

FIP - Differential diagnoses 1

Original article: Feline Infectious Peritonitis Differential Diagnoses

“My cat was just diagnosed with FIP. My vet says the disease is fatal and there is no cure. How is this possible? What can I do? I feel helpless. I love my cat, I can’t bear the thought of losing her… Please help.”

There are no words to describe the feeling of utter despair and helplessness. We know, we experienced it too.

You are not alone and you are not completely helpless. There are important steps you need to take now to make sure everything has been done to keep your cat healthy.

The very first step is to determine the correct diagnosis. Why? Because mistakes are common. Making a misdiagnosis can have more devastating consequences than no diagnosis. It is estimated that in 80% cats diagnosed with non-fusion (dry) FIP, the condition is caused by another, usually treatable disease. The probability of error in the case of effusion (wet) FIP is lower, but it is still very variable depending on the age and breed of the cat.

Making sure you have the right diagnosis means talking to a veterinarian, even if it should call into question his or her findings. It can save your cat's life, so just do it. Don't be stopped by the fear that you will not offend your veterinarian or that you have no medical or veterinary education, especially if your veterinarian recommends euthanasia so that your cat does not suffer unnecessarily. If it was your child, brother or yourself, would you accept the diagnosis without reservation?

The most common cause of misdiagnosis is a positive FCoV titer. Feline 95% is a carrier of FCoV (feline coronavirus). However, this does not mean that they will develop FIP. Only 5% eventually develop feline infectious peritonitis.

We often hear "My cat tested positive for FIP".

Let's be clear: there is no FIP test. It just doesn't exist. This is not how you are used to FIV or FeLV. Many people over and over again - including some veterinarians - will tell you that a cat has FIP only based on a positive FCoV titer. Even worse, some recommend euthanasia on the spot. Don't let this be the case for your cat. Let's clarify this mistake forever: A positive FCoV titer DOES NOT mean that your cat has a FIP.

FIP is a difficult disease to diagnose and the diagnosis is based more on an excretory process, especially in the dry (non-fusion) form.

Below is a table of differential diagnoses for both dry and wet forms of FIP. This list is not exhaustive. Talk to your veterinarian about these options.

Wet FIP

Effusion	Differential diagnosis
Peritoneal (abdominal) discharge	Bacterial peritonitis Congestive heart failure Cystic kidney Glomerulonephritis Liver disease Lymphocytic cholangitis Malabsorption Neoplasia Pancreatitis Pansteatitis Parasitism Pregnancy Pyometra Toxoplasmosis Trauma Tuberculosis
Pleural effusion	Heart failure Chylothorax Cryptococcosis Diaphragmatic hernia Torsion of the pulmonary lobe Neoplasia (lymphoma) Pyothorax

Dry FIP

Clinical signs	Differential diagnosis
loss of appetite ataxia matte coat enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes jaundice lethargy eye lesions pyogranulomas pyrexia weight loss anemia neurological symptoms … Not all symptoms are listed	CNS disease Cholangitis Chronic upper respiratory tract infection Deep fungal infections: - cryptococcosis - coccidioidomycosis - histoplasmosis - blastomycosis FeLV FIV IBD Liver disease Mycoplasma (infectious anemia of cats) Neoplasia (lymphoma) Pancreatitis Kidney failure Systemic infectious diseases: - toxoplasmosis - nocardiosis - actinomycosis

I recommend free continued of this article with a detailed description of some differential diagnoses.

18. 5. 202129. 3. 2023

Russia unveils world’s first coronavirus vaccine for dogs, cats and other animals

31.3.2021, Robyn Dixon and Miriam Berger
Original article: Russia unveils world's first coronavirus vaccine for dogs, cats and other animals

Russia has registered the world's first coronavirus vaccine for dogs, cats, minks, foxes and other animals, the local agricultural supervisory authority said on Wednesday.

The vaccine, called Carnivak-Cov, was developed by scientists from the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, also known as Rosselkhoznadzor, the Russian agency Tass News reported.

Since many scientists claim that the virus that caused Covid-19 originally jumped from the bat to humans, or even through another intermediary, infections in animals, from zoos to mink farms, have been reported around the world.

It remains unclear how easily the virus can be transmitted between animals and humans. However, after repeated infections among minks on farms in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe, millions of fur animals were killed as a precaution to prevent possible transmission. The researchers were particularly concerned about possible mutated variants of the virus developed in minks and other animals that could infect humans.

Russia has already conditionally approved three coronavirus vaccines for human use. Rosselkhoznadzor's deputy head, Konstantin Savenkov, said on Wednesday that it would be the first approved vaccine in the world for a wide range of animal vaccinations.

The vaccine could be mass-produced in April, although the agency did not say when it would be available on the market. It will be produced by the Russian Federal Center for Animal Health, which is the largest producer of veterinary products in Russia.

"Carnivak-Cov, a sorbate-inactivated coronavirus infection vaccine," is the first and only product in the world to prevent Covid-19 in animals, "Savenkov told Tass News.

Two U.S. companies, a New Jersey-based veterinary pharmaceutical company, Zoetis and Medgene Labs of South Dakota, are also developing coronavirus vaccines for use in minks and other animals.

Russian researchers launched clinical trials in October 2020, and tested the vaccine on dogs, cats, minks and foxes, as well as polar foxes, among other animals. According to Savenko, mass production of the vaccine could begin in April 2021.

"The research results give us reason to assume that the vaccine is safe and has a strong immunogenic effect," Savenkov said.

The vaccine is expected to develop antibody resistance that will last for at least six months.

Savenkov told Tass News that "domestic breeders and trading companies from Greece, Poland and Austria" are planning to buy the vaccine, while companies from the United States, Canada and Singapore have also shown interest in it.

The Russian coronavirus vaccine for human use has not yet been approved in either the United States or Europe.

Earlier this year, Zoetis was given a trial trial of nine infected apes at the San Diego Zoo, who have recovered ever since.

1. 5. 202129. 3. 2023

FIP Antivirals

1.12.2020, Translation 1.5.2021
Original Cornell University blog post: FIP Antivirals

Summary

For families living with a diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and the veterinarians involved in their care, we understand that the decision to use black market treatment for an otherwise necessarily fatal disease is the ethical dilemma of choosing the lesser of the two evils.
Due to concerns about the safety and efficacy of black market GS-441524 counterfeits, combined with the fact that veterinary supervision of such use is full of legal and ethical dilemmas, we cannot currently recommend the use of such treatment.
We strongly warn against the widespread use of antiviral therapy as monotherapy in farms and shelters with endemic feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). Widespread use in these conditions is expected to generate antiviral-resistant FIP strains.

Opinion

We received many questions regarding the use of GS-441524 in the treatment of FIP. Here is a summary of GS-441524 and our position on its current use. Research into the use of this compound was first published by Dr. Niels Pedersen of UC Davis in 2018. Team Dr. Pedersen published a follow-up study documenting the use of GS-441524 in naturally occurring cases of FIP in 2019. The results of both studies were unprecedented with the 100% (10/10) recovery rate reported in experimentally infected cats and the 84% (25/31) recovery rate in naturally infected cats. Owned cured cats reported returning to "near normal" within two weeks of treatment. The fever usually subsided during the first 12-36 hours, accompanied by a return of appetite. The effusions subsided within 10-14 days and the jaundice gradually subsided within 2-4 weeks. The conclusion of the 2019 study proposes an optimized treatment protocol for the use of GS-441624 at a dose of 4.0 mg / kg given as a subcutaneous injection once a day for at least 12 weeks.

Although managing a natural infection has been shown to be more challenging than an experimental infection, most cats in the study have responded to treatment. Dr. Pedersen is a pioneer in the field of FIP research and there is no doubt about the legitimacy of its work. Unfortunately, there are many issues surrounding the current use of GS-441524. Most of these concerns are directly related to the fact that this medicine cannot be legally purchased from a regulated source. In addition to blocking consumers' access to the medicine, it has also blocked research into best practice and marginalized the role of veterinarians in treatment decisions.

GS-441524 is owned by Gilead Sciences, an American biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of antiviral drugs. Gilead provided GS-441624 Dr. Pedersen for use in his 2018 and 2019 studies, but refused to market the drug for use in cats because of his close relationship with another promising antiviral drug, remdesivir. Prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, remdesivir was tested for the treatment of Ebola. In a story complicated by human drug licensing challenges, Gilead feared that any adverse effects of GS-441524 reported in cats would harm remdesivir in the FDA approval process. The market for veterinary medicines - even as promising as GS-441524 - is negligible compared to a potential human blockbuster. Gilead considered the use of GS-441524 for the treatment of FIP as an unnecessary risk that could harm the chances of remdesivirus success and refused to license it for use in cats.

This created a black market with GS-441524, led by overseas businessmen in an effort to take advantage of the despair caused by the FIP diagnosis. Treatment is expensive, ranging from $ 1,000 to $ 10,000. There is no formal regulation of these suppliers or their products on the black market. Veterinary professionals may be at legal risk if they recommend, dispense or administer these unapproved medicines. This combination of factors can prevent treated cats from receiving optimal care. We understand that FIP is otherwise a deadly disease, so these risks may seem acceptable, but we warn that unregulated use of GS-441524 has the potential to develop antiviral resistance and jeopardize the success of FIP treatment in the future.

GS-441524 is a nucleoside analog. When viral RNA polymerase integrates GS-441524 into the viral genome, the replication mechanism is blocked and transcription is terminated prematurely, making it difficult for the virus to replicate. We know from experience with nucleoside analogues designed to treat HIV that these drugs do not completely suppress viral replication. The use of single-drug therapy leads to the development of resistant strains. Our most successful experience with antiviral therapy includes combination therapies targeting various aspects of viral replication. Such combination therapies lead to excellent viral suppression and reduce the incidence of antiviral resistance.

The oral form of the nucleoside analog GS-441524 is currently marketed as a supplement to support the feline immune response. Preliminary study Dr. Dianne Addie states that this treatment stops the secretion of the original enteric coronavirus, also known as FECV. This work investigates the prophylactic use of a nucleoside analog in a multi-cat environment where cats have a high risk of developing FIP. Although these results appear to be positive at first sight, they are a matter of deep concern due to the development of antiviral resistance. Although there is preventive prophylaxis for people at high risk of contracting HIV, it is important to emphasize that this medicine, known as Truvada, is a combination antiviral treatment. Decades of experience with HIV have shown that monotherapies are much more likely to result in resistant antiviral strains.

Dr. Addie makes a compelling case for involving veterinarians and researchers in the use of new FIP therapies. We would like to add that there is an obligation to discourage any use that would lead to the development of antiviral resistance. According to one-health, both wild and domestic cats appear to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. This has implications for both the veterinary and human worlds: coronaviruses are well known for their ability to recombine in susceptible hosts, and there is a possibility that we are entering uncharted territory with the emergence of recombinant viruses generated under selective antiviral pressure.

One of the bright spots in the dark cloud of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is that we will probably soon be able to put aside concerns about the use of the GS-441524 from the black market. A close relative, remdesivir, recently obtained FDA approval for use in a pandemic SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. Now that the main obstacle to licensing has been clarified, we are optimistic that this will pave the way for the legal and scientifically based use of GS-441524 in cats. While initial studies of GS-441524 have proven to be very promising, important research is still needed in the wider field. Initial data on the efficacy of remdesivir for treatment with COVID-19 illustrated better results than those found in the larger study. WHO, where the drug has only a slight effect on the results at best.

With regard to combination therapy, other potential antiviral drugs for FIP are possible, in particular the protease inhibitor GC376 has a completely different mechanism of action and is a promising component of combination therapy. (Although not mentioned here, the GC376 black market is a very similar case to GS-441524.) Research into the treatment of COVID-19 in humans will undoubtedly lead to the development of promising therapies for cats. Dr. Pedersen posted preliminary data about 25 such compounds, some of which have shown potential for combination therapy. While awaiting GS-441524 approval, there will be questions regarding the off-label use of remdesivir in cats. We warn that the effects of drugs on different species can be unpredictable and that laboratory research is needed to determine safety and efficacy parameters.

For families living with a diagnosis of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and for the veterinarians involved in their care, we understand that the decision to use black market treatment for an otherwise necessarily fatal disease is the ethical dilemma of choosing the lesser of the two evils. We hope that this statement provides a useful reference framework for the history of GS-441524, while emphasizing the potential of antiviral resistance in its unregulated use. Pedersen posted own comment to use FIP antivirals from the black market, which provides more detailed information on current use strategies. At Whittaker Lab, we are continuing our basic research into the mechanisms that coronaviruses use to expand their cellular tropism in order to better understand the factors that lead to diseases such as FIP and COVID-19. We are committed to working in solidarity with our fellow researchers, veterinarians and cat owners to create a future without FIP.