Antiviral activity of itraconazole against type I feline coronavirus infection

Vet Res. 2019 Jan 18;50(1):5. doi: 10.1186/s13567-019-0625-3.

Abstract

Feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) are the causative agents of severe systemic disease (feline infectious peritonitis: FIP) in domestic and wild cats. FCoVs have been classified into serotypes I and II. Type I FCoV is the dominant serotype (approximately 70-90%) worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to provide antiviral agents for type I FCoV infection. In this study, we demonstrated that itraconazole (ICZ), practically used for fungal infections in cats, inhibits the type I FCoV infection. ICZ also exhibited antiviral effect in cells after viral infection, suggesting that ICZ could potentially be used as a therapeutic.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cats
  • Cell Line
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Coronavirus, Feline / drug effects*
  • Feline Infectious Peritonitis / drug therapy
  • Feline Infectious Peritonitis / virology
  • Itraconazole / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Itraconazole