Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine efficacy and FIV neutralizing antibodies.

A HIV-1 tier system has been developed to categorize the various subtype viruses based on their sensitivity to vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies (NAbs): tier 1 with greatest sensitivity, tier 2 being moderately sensitive, and tier 3 being the least sensitive to NAbs (Mascola et al., J Virol 2005; 79:10103-7). Here, we define an FIV tier system using two related FIV dual-subtype (A+D) vaccines: the commercially available inactivated infected-cell vaccine (Fel-O-Vax(®) FIV) and its prototype vaccine solely composed of inactivated whole viruses. Both vaccines afforded combined protection rates of 100% against subtype-A tier-1 FIVPet, 89% against subtype-B tier-3 FIVFC1, 61% against recombinant subtype-A/B tier-2 FIVBang, 62% against recombinant subtype-F'/C tier-3 FIVNZ1, and 40% against subtype-A tier-2 FIVUK8 in short-duration (37-41 weeks) studies. In long-duration (76-80 weeks) studies, the commercial vaccine afforded a combined protection rate of at least 46% against the tier-2 and tier-3 viruses. Notably, protection rates observed here are far better than recently reported HIV-1 vaccine trials (Sanou et al., The Open AIDS J 2012; 6:246-60). Prototype vaccine protection against two tier-3 and one tier-2 viruses was more effective than commercial vaccine. Such protection did not correlate with the presence of vaccine-induced NAbs to challenge viruses. This is the first large-scale (228 laboratory cats) study characterizing short- and long-duration efficacies of dual-subtype FIV vaccines against heterologous subtype and recombinant viruses, as well as FIV tiers based on in vitro NAb analysis and in vivo passive-transfer studies. These studies demonstrate that not all vaccine protection is mediated by vaccine-induced NAbs.

Activation of TrkB with TAM-163 results in opposite effects on body weight in rodents and non-human primates.

Strong genetic data link the Tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) and its major endogenous ligand brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to the regulation of energy homeostasis, with loss-of-function mutations in either gene causing severe obesity in both mice and humans. It has previously been reported that peripheral administration of the endogenous TrkB agonist ligand neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) profoundly decreases food intake and body weight in rodents, while paradoxically increasing these same parameters in monkeys. We generated a humanized TrkB agonist antibody, TAM-163, and characterized its therapeutic potential in several models of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In vitro, TAM-163 bound to human and rodent TrkB with high affinity, activated all aspects of the TrkB signaling cascade and induced TrkB internalization and degradation in a manner similar to BDNF. In vivo, peripheral administration of TAM-163 decreased food intake and/or body weight in mice, rats, hamsters, and dogs, but increased food intake and body weight in monkeys. The magnitude of weight change was similar in rodents and non-human primates, occurred at doses where there was no appreciable penetration into deep structures of the brain, and could not be explained by differences in exposures between species. Rather, peripherally administered TAM-163 localized to areas in the hypothalamus and the brain stem located outside the blood-brain barrier in a similar manner between rodents and non-human primates, suggesting differences in neuroanatomy across species. Our data demonstrate that a TrkB agonist antibody, administered peripherally, causes species-dependent effects on body weight similar to the endogenous TrkB ligand NT-4. The possible clinical utility of TrkB agonism in treating weight regulatory disorder, such as obesity or cachexia, will require evaluation in man.

Evaluation of oscillometric and vascular access port arterial blood pressure measurement techniques versus implanted telemetry in anesthetized cats.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of a semi-invasive vascular access port (VAP) device or noninvasive oscillometry versus invasive telemetry for blood pressure measurements in cats. ANIMALS: 6 healthy cats. PROCEDURES: 30 days before the study, all cats received an implanted telemeter and a VAP device. During normotension and experimentally induced hypertension, blood pressure was measured with the implanted devices and with noninvasive oscillometry at 4 time points. RESULTS: Compared with invasive telemetry, VAP had a correlation coefficient from 0.8487 to 0.9972, and noninvasive oscillometry had a correlation coefficient from 0.7478 to 0.9689. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of the VAP device and noninvasive oscillometry had a high degree of correlation with invasive telemetry as the gold standard for blood pressure measurement. Use of a VAP device resulted in a slightly higher degree of correlation, compared with noninvasive oscillometry.

Effect of perzinfotel and a proprietary phospholipase A(2) inhibitor on kinetic gait and subjective lameness scores in dogs with sodium urate-induced synovitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of perzinfotel (an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist) and a proprietary phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) inhibitor to attenuate lameness in dogs with sodium urate (SU)-induced synovitis. ANIMALS: 8 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: A blinded 4-way crossover study was performed. Dogs received perzinfotel (10 mg/kg), a proprietary PLA(2) inhibitor (10 mg/kg), carprofen (4.4 mg/kg; positive control treatment), or no treatment (negative control treatment). On the fourth day after initiation of treatment, synovitis was induced via intra-articular injection of SU 1 hour before administration of the last treatment dose. Ground reaction forces were measured and clinical lameness evaluations were performed before (baseline [time 0]) and 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 25 hours after SU injection. There was a 21-day washout period between subsequent treatments. Data were analyzed via repeated-measures ANOVAs. RESULTS: Peak vertical force (PVF) and vertical impulse (VI) values for negative control and perzinfotel treatments were significantly lower at 2 and 4 hours, compared with baseline values. Values for PVF and VI for the PLA(2) inhibitor and positive control treatments did not differ from baseline values at any time points. Between-treatment comparisons revealed significantly higher PVF and VI values for the positive control treatment than for the negative control and perzinfotel treatments at 2 and 4 hours. Values for VI were higher for PLA(2) inhibitor treatment than for negative control treatment at 2 hours. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Perzinfotel did not significantly alter SU-induced lameness. The proprietary PLA(2) inhibitor attenuated lameness but not as completely as did carprofen.

Effects of perzinfotel, butorphanol tartrate, and a butorphanol-perzinfotel combination on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of perzinfotel, butorphanol, and their combination on the minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in cats. ANIMALS: 7 healthy sexually intact cats (4 males and 3 females), aged 12 to 17 months and weighing 2.8 to 4.6 kg. PROCEDURES: In a crossover design, saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, perzinfotel (2.5 to 15 mg/kg; IV, IM, and SC), butorphanol tartrate (0.2 mg/kg, IM), or a combination of 5 mg of perzinfotel/kg and 2 mg of butorphanol tartrate/kg (both IM) was administered to 6 cats before 7 separate episodes of anesthesia with isoflurane in oxygen. Heart rate, arterial blood pressure, bispectral index (BIS), and inspiration and expiration concentrations of isoflurane were continuously monitored. The isoflurane MAC was determined twice during anesthesia. RESULTS: IV, IM, and SC administration of perzinfotel at 2.5 to 15 mg/kg resulted in a significant decrease in mean isoflurane MAC by 43.3% to 68.0%. The BIS significantly increased after perzinfotel administration via the same routes at 2.5 to 15 mg/kg and after perzinfotel-butorphanol administration IM. Blood pressure was significantly higher after perzinfotel was administered at 5 mg/kg, IM; 10 mg/kg, IV; and 10 mg/kg, SC than after saline solution administration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Perzinfotel administration decreased the isoflurane MAC and increased several BIS and blood pressure values in anesthetized cats. Administration of perzinfotel prior to isoflurane anesthesia may improve anesthetic safety by reducing inhalant anesthetic requirements and improving cardiovascular function during anesthesia.

Effects of perzinfotel on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs when administered as a preanesthetic via various routes or in combination with butorphanol.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anesthetic-sparing effects of perzinfotel when administered as a preanesthetic via IV, IM, or SC routes or IM in combination with butorphanol. ANIMALS: 6 healthy sexually intact Beagles (4 males and 2 females; age, 18.5 to 31 months; body weight, 9.8 to 12.4 kg). PROCEDURES: After administration of a placebo, perzinfotel (10 to 30 mg/kg), or a perzinfotel-butorphanol combination, anesthesia was induced in dogs with propofol and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The following variables were continuously monitored: bispectral index; heart rate; systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures; end-tidal concentration of isoflurane; end-tidal partial pressure of CO(2); oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry; rectal temperature; and inspiration and expiration concentrations of isoflurane. A noxious stimulation protocol was used, and the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) was determined twice during anesthesia. RESULTS: IV, IM, and SC administration of perzinfotel alone decreased the mean isoflurane MAC values by 32% to 44% and significantly increased bispectral index values. A dose of 30 mg of perzinfotel/kg IM resulted in significant increases in heart rate and diastolic arterial blood pressure. The greatest MAC reduction (59%) was obtained with a combination of 20 mg of perzinfotel/kg IM and 0.2 mg of butorphanol/kg IM, whereas administration of butorphanol alone yielded a 15% reduction in the isoflurane MAC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SC, IM, or IV administration of perzinfotel prior to induction of isoflurane anesthesia improved anesthetic safety by reducing inhalant anesthetic requirements in healthy dogs.

Evaluation of the potential for interaction between a metaflumizone-amitraz combination and dexmedetomidine hydrochloride in dogs.

This study investigated the effects on cardiovascular parameters, if any, of a commercially available combination of metaflumizone and amitraz administered to healthy, telemetered beagles that were subsequently sedated with dexmedetomidine. Dogs were sedated first without any pretreatment and then after pretreatment with metaflumizone and amitraz. Baseline values of all parameters were within normal limits for all dogs before the first anesthetic event. At 10 and 20 minutes after onset of sedation, oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry was significantly higher for dogs that were pretreated with metaflumizone and amitraz. At all times after induction of sedation, blood pressure, heart rate, and baseline body temperature for dogs pretreated with metaflumizone and amitraz were not statistically different from when they were not pretreated. In conclusion, prior treatment with metaflumizone and amitraz did not influence the hemodynamic response to dexmedetomidine in telemetered dogs.