Studies of the effect of acemannan on retrovirus infections: clinical stabilization of feline leukemia virus-infected cats. |
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Authors: | M A Sheets B A Unger G F Giggleman I R Tizard |
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Affiliation: | Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital, Irving, TX. |
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Abstract: | Feline leukemia is a disease induced by an oncornavirus infection that inevitably causes clinically affected cats to die. It has been estimated that 40% of cats are dead within 4 weeks and 70% within 8 weeks of the onset of clinical symptoms. Acemannan is a complex carbohydrate with both immunostimulatory and direct antiviral properties. Administration of acemannan for 6 weeks intraperitoneally to clinically symptomatic cats significantly improved both the quality of life and the survival rate. Twelve weeks after initiation of treatment, 71% of treated cats were alive and in good health. |
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