Seventeen cats with chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) that tested positive for calicivirus DNA via PCR were treated with either SC recombinant feline interferon-ω (rFeIFN-ω [1 M unit/kg]) or prednisolone (1 mg/kg) to evaluate the effectiveness of the former in reducing clinical signs. Thirteen cats received rFeIFN-ω on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 14, and 21; the remaining 4 cats received prednisolone on the same schedule. Clinical signs (ie, salivation, pain on opening the mouth, halitosis, mandibular lymphadenopathy) and stomatitis (ie, degree and extent of oral inflammation and bleeding) were scored on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. In addition, real-time PCR was used to quantify calicivirus replication.
The study found a reduction in salivation scores and degree and extent of inflammation in cats treated with rFeIFN-ω. Real-time PCR results demonstrated inhibition of virus replication in the rFeIFN-ω group but not in the prednisolone group. The authors concluded that SC administration of rFeIFN-ω could significantly improve clinical signs and appearance of stomatitis in cats with calicivirus and FCGS and that improvement was the result of inhibition of calicivirus proliferation. Limitations of the study included nonblinded evaluators, concomitant use of antibiotics in some patients, and small sample size, which did not allow statistical comparison between groups.
Further studies should be performed with a larger sample size and stricter protocol to determine the validity of this treatment. Until a definitive cause of stomatitis can be determined, it may be difficult to find a treatment that will eliminate the disease in all cases.