Mutian®X oral form has stopped fecal coronavirus excretion in naturally infected cats

Original complete article: Oral Mutian®X stopped faecal feline coronavirus shedding by naturally infected cats (June 2020)
Abstract translation: 17.1.2021

Diane D Addie, Sheryl Curran, Flora Bellini, Ben Crowe, Emily Sheehan, Lesya Ukrainchuk, Nicola Decaro

Abstract

Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is common in domestic cats living in groups. About 10% infected cats can potentially develop a fatal disease, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). The virus is transmitted by the faecal-oral route. Mutian® Xraphconn (Mutian X) is a product for the treatment of FIP, but it is also used to stop coronavirus secretion, although there are no clear guidelines for its use. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum dose and duration of treatment required to reliably eliminate the virus in the faeces of asymptomatic, virus-secreting cats. In five households with several cats, Mutian X tablets received 29 cats naturally infected with FCoV, and actively shedding the virus in the feces. Virus shedding was monitored by a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) controlled on fecal inhibitors to ensure susceptibility. Mutian X administered orally eliminated the virus in 29 cats; although four cats required re-therapy to stop virus shedding. A dose of 4 mg / kg every 24 hours for four days was found to be the optimal treatment protocol: 2 mg / kg cleared only 80% cats. Therapeutic use of a sensitive RT-qPCR assay was necessary to ensure that virus was eliminated, as failure of even one cat could result in re-infection of other cats. Pre-treatment virus shedding records provided retrospective control: significantly more cats stopped shedding virus after Mutian X than recovered from infection during the control period (p <0.00001). This is the first report of successful elimination of FCoV excretion by the faecal route in chronically infected cats.

Keywords: Antivirals; Faecal shedding of the virus; Feline coronavirus (FCoV); Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP); Itraconazole; Mutian X tablets

Copyright © 2020 Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Translator's note: To achieve the same effect, any drug containing GS441524.