FHV-1 is a highly contagious virus and is a common health problem in cats, with a prevalence ranging from 5 to 70%.
After infection, the virus replicates in cells of the conjunctiva, cornea, upper respiratory tract and neurons and is frequently associated with diseases of different pathogenicity that can be particularly severe in kittens, leading to viral pneumonia and sometimes death.
Vaccines are available with both modified and inactivated live virus for the prevention of the disease. Although both vaccines result in less severe clinical signs and reduced viral shedding, mild clinical signs may still be present after vaccination.
Unfortunately, there is no well-defined therapeutic protocol against the virus and so far the drugs available are virostatic which, while being able to reduce the replication of the virus and the severity of clinical manifestations, must be administered frequently and are not completely curative.
In recent years, several medicinal herbs and phytotherapeutic compounds, obtained from medicinal plants and fungi, have shown promising results for the treatment of infectious diseases due to their natural antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties.
Several studies regarding the application of alternative treatments against herpes viruses have been conducted with promising results, both in human and veterinary settings.
Antiviral mycotherapies against Feline Herpesvirus
Ganoderma lucidum – Reishi
It contains numerous biologically active components with potent immunomodulatory activity and anticancer and antiviral properties. In vitro inhibition against herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2.
Cordyceps sinensis
Recently, it has gained increasing importance in the scientific community thanks to its numerous bioactive constituents and their therapeutic actions against certain nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and hepatic diseases, their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects and their antioxidant properties. In addition, several bioactive compounds isolated from Cordyceps sinensis have been studied for their anticancer and antiviral activities.
Trametes versicolor, or Coriolus versicolor
It is an ancient Chinese medicinal mushroom widely known as an important source of immunomodulatory compounds. Polysaccharides, polysaccharopeptide (PSP), and polysaccharopeptide Krestin (PSK) are the most important bioactive components of T. versicolor that stimulate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. In addition, Trametesversicolor polysaccharides are being studied for their medicinal value in cancer therapy and for their antiviral and antimicrobial role, indicating a positive role in both in vivo and in vitro studies.
Further reading: —> in this study the use of the product TH1 HELP (CAMON) against feline herpesvirus was evaluated.
ABSTRACT: The feline herpesvirus (FHV) is a widely diffused and highly contagious virus that represents a common health problem in cats. It is frequently associated with diseases of different pathogenicity that can be particularly severe in young kittens leading to viral pneumonia and sometimes death. Unfortunately, there isn’t an effective therapeutic protocol against the virus. Several studies concerning the application of alternative treatments against herpesviruses have been performed with promising results, in both human and veterinary medicine. The present study aims to investigate the in vitro antiviral properties against FHV of a commercially available food supplement HELP-TH1 (Camon, S.p.A., Italy) against FHV. The HELP-TH1 is principally composed of Ganoderma lucidum, Cordyceps sinensis,and Trametes versicolor. Since those mushrooms have been largely used in traditional medicine for different purposes and several studies indicate their antiviral properties when used alone, we tested if their properties are maintained when acting as a synergy. For such a reason, we tested the possible antiviral properties of HELP-TH1, a commercially available food supplement against FHV. The role of HELP-TH1 was evaluated by the plaque reduction assay and real time PCR. These data indicated that, in the in vitro experimental conditions, HELP-TH1can reduce cytopathic effect of the virus and its relativethe viral load demonstrating its antiviral properties.
Discussion about this post