D05FE-621: Feline Asthma - Using a new Protocol to Decrease Inflammation and Clinical Signs

principal investigator: Cherlene Delgado, student, University of Missouri

Project Mentor: Leah A. Cohn, DVM, PhD

completed

Year: 1 of 1. $0

Asthma is a common and potentially debilitating disease in cats and is often treated with steroids. Some cats have adverse reactions to this treatment, however, there is a need for an alternative treatment. Hyposensitization (also known as immunotherapy) offers the chance to "cure" allergies via controlled injections of allergens that allow the body to tolerate the allergen when exposed again under natural conditions. CpG motifs, which are components of bacteria that warn the body that it has been invaded by a potentially dangerous organism, can also be used as the body is not able to fight the bacteria and cause an allergy at the same time so they fool the body out of "allergy mode." The animals were treated with both Immunotherapy and CpG motifs and had only mild adverse reactions. Further, 8 of the 12 cats showed reduced allergy symptoms thus showing these two new treatments have potential to help asthmatic cats.

Cherlene says, "This experience has greatly reinforced my interest in the opportunities that research offers to explore new treatment protocols and novel therapies for the benefit of companion animals. I felt an enormous contentment knowing that there are research projects out there that find a novel approach to improve companion animal health and I am proud to be part of one."