Effect of ciclosporin and methylprednisolone acetate on cats previously infected with feline herpesvirus 1

Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) is a common ocular and respiratory pathogen of cats that can be associated with recurrent clinical signs of disease. Ciclosporin (cyclosporine) is commonly administered per os (PO) for the treatment of a number of inflammatory diseases in cats. A number of client-owned cats administered ciclosporin (cyclosporine) A (CsA) PO to block renal transplant rejection have developed clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease that may have been from activated FHV-1. In this study, cats experimentally inoculated with FHV-1 several months previously were administered methylprednisolone acetate intramuscularly, CsA PO or a placebo PO. While clinical signs of activated FHV-1 occurred in some cats, disease was mild and self-limited in most cats. There was no vomiting, diarrhea, inappetence, weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria or polyphagia recognized.