Canine herpesvirus-1 is a varicellovirus of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae with a worldwide distribution and host range restricted to canids.1–3 It was originally identified as an etiology of fetal and neonatal systemic infections. Now, CHV-1 is also recognized as a pathogen of adult dogs that is associated with a variety of dermatologic, genital, respiratory, and ocular conditions.4–7 In domestic adult dogs, ocular lesions associated with primary and recurrent CHV-1 infection include blepharitis, conjunctivitis, ulcerative keratitis, and nonulcerative keratitis.8,9
Ganciclovir is a synthetic nucleoside analog of guanosine that is selectively phosphorylated by virus-encoded enzymes (eg, thymidine kinase or protein kinase) into ganciclovir monophosphate.10,11 The phosphorylated form of ganciclovir is further phosphorylated by both viral and cellular thymidine kinases of virus-infected cells to the active metabolite ganciclovir triphosphate.12 Ganciclovir triphosphate accumulates only in virus-infected cells; thus, it is fairly nontoxic to healthy host cells. Ganciclovir has activity against a broad spectrum of human herpesviruses and adenoviruses.13,14 Ganciclovir can be administered by the I V, intravitreal, and PO routes and is used for the treatment of several types of human cytomegalovirus infections, including retinitis, pneumonitis, colitis, and encephalitis.15
Ganciclovir is water soluble, which facilitates its formulation as an aqueous preparation for topical ocular application.16 A 0.15% ganciclovir aqueous gel is commercially available and marketed in the United States and Europe.17 The solubilization of ganciclovir as an aqueous gel extends drug contact time on the ocular surface, enhances tissue absorption, improves tolerability, and results in extended therapeutic concentrations in ocular tissues and fluids.18
In human medicine, topical ganciclovir gel is a clinically effective antiviral agent used for the treatment of various ocular herpesvirus infections, such as HSV-1 keratitis, herpes zoster ophthalmicus, cytomegalovirus corneal endotheliitis and anterior uveitis, and human herpesvirus-6 corneal endotheliitis.19–23 Additionally, evidence suggests that ganciclovir gel is an effective treatment for human adenovirus conjunctivitis.24,25 In veterinary medicine, ganciclovir ophthalmic gel has been successfully used to treat a dog with CHV-1 dendritic ulcerative keratitis.a However, the in vitro antiviral efficacy of ganciclovir against ocular CHV-1 isolates and the in vivo effects of treatment with ganciclovir ophthalmic gel in dogs with experimentally induced ocular CHV-1 infection have not been described. Therefore, the purpose of the study reported here was to determine the in vitro antiviral activity of ganciclovir against CHV-1 and to evaluate the treatment effects of ganciclovir ophthalmic gel in dogs with experimentally induced ocular CHV-1 infection.
Materials and Methods
Study design and animals
The study consisted of in vitro and in vivo experiments. During in vitro experiments, the cytotoxic and antiviral effects of ganciclovir at various concentrations were determined for MDCK cell cultures that were and were not infected with CHV-1, respectively. During the in vivo experiment, latent CHV-1 infection was experimentally induced in 10 adult dogs, which were then randomly assigned to be treated with topical ganciclovir or artificial tears (control). All in vivo procedures were approved by the Cornell University Animal Care and Use Committee and were conducted in accordance with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research.26
Ten 2.5-year-old specific pathogen–free laboratory Beagles were used for the in vivo experiment. All dogs were seronegative for antibodies against CHV-1. Dogs were housed in an isolation facility for the duration of the study. They were maintained individually in runs that prevented direct contact between dogs. The dogs were acclimated to the housing facilities for a minimum of 12 weeks before initiation of study procedures.
In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic and anti–CHV-1 effects of ganciclovir
Madin-Darby canine kidney cells were used for all in vitro procedures. The cells were maintained in cell line medium, which consisted of DMEMb with 1 g/L glucose, l-glutamine, and sodium pyruvate that contained 10% fetal bovine serum,c and penicillin (200 U/mL)-streptomycind (200 μg/mL) at 37°C and 5% CO2.
Cell viability was assessed by use of the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.e Briefly, MDCK cells were treated with ganciclovirf dissolved in 0.1M hydrochloride at serial 2-fold dilutions that ranged from 0 to 2,000μM and incubated for 68 hours. There were at least 3 replicates for each dilution. Then, 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide dissolved in DMEM was added to the ganciclovir-treated cells, and the cell cultures were incubated for an additional 4 hours to allow for formazan crystal formation. The formazan crystals were dissolved with an equal volume of solubilization solutione (10% Triton X-100 and 0.1 N HCl in isopropanol), and light absorbance was spectrophotometrically measured at 570 nm. For each ganciclovir-treated cell culture, the relative cell viability was calculated as follows: (optical density of drug dilution at 570 nm – optical density of drug dilution at 690 nm)/(optical density of nontreated at 570 nm – optical density of drug dilution at 690 nm) × 100%.
The EC50 of ganciclovir for CHV-1 was determined as described.27 Briefly, 10 4 MDCK cells were added to each well of a 96-well plate and cultured overnight (approx 20 hours). Then, 100 plaque-forming units of a previously described field strain of CHV-128 were added to each well. The cells within each well were treated with ganciclovir at serial 2-fold dilutions that ranged from 0 to 800μM. There were at least 3 replicates for each dilution. Cells were cultured approximately 72 hours or until cytopathic effect was visible in untreated control cells. Cells were fixed with 90% ethanol and stained with crystal violet. The percentage of wells that contained cytopathic effect was determined for each ganciclovir dilution.
In vivo experiment
Experimental induction of ocular CHV-1 infection— Twelve months prior to study initiation, a latent ocular CHV-1 infection was experimentally induced in each dog by use of the topical ocular drop method as described.28 Briefly, both eyes of each dog were topically inoculated with 2 × 105 TCID50 of a CHV-1 field strain (CHV-1-Duk) isolated from corneal specimens of a dog with dendritic ulcerative keratitis that was treated at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Hospital for Animals. The eyelid of each eye was held closed immediately after virus instillation and gently massaged for 60 seconds. Each dog was monitored for 30 days after CHV-1 inoculation to confirm the development of primary ocular CHV-1 infection, during which time clinical ophthalmic examinations were performed at 3-day intervals and serum neutralizing anti–CHV-1 antibody titers were determined at 15-day intervals.
Treatment administration—Each dog was randomly assigned by means of a random number generator to receive either ganciclovir (ganciclovir group; n = 5) or artificial tear (control group; 5) ophthalmic gel, and the study had a duration of 30 days (days 1 through 30). For each dog, the latent ocular CHV-1 infection was experimentally recrudesced as described.29 Briefly, beginning on day 1, each dog received prednisolone (3.0 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) for 7 consecutive days. Beginning on day 4, dogs in the ganciclovir group received 1 drop of 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic gel,g whereas dogs in the control group received 1 drop of artificial tear ophthalmic gelh in each eye 5 times daily (at 3-hour intervals between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm) for 7 days (days 4 through 10) and then 3 times daily (at 6-hour intervals between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm) for another 7 days (days 11 through 17). The labels on the assigned treatment preparations were concealed such that the persons (AMN and CBS) who administered the treatments and all investigators remained unaware of (were blinded to) the treatment group assignment for each dog.
Ophthalmic examination—A physical examination and complete ophthalmic examination, which included slit-lamp biomicroscopy,i indirect ophthalmoscopy, a Schirmer I tear test,j and corneal application of lissamine green stain,k were performed on each dog before study initiation. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy was performed on both eyes before and after application of lissamine green stain at 2-day intervals throughout the duration of the study. Ophthalmic examination findings were quantified by use of a previously described modified ocular surface disease clinical scoring system.28 Briefly, for each eye, the severity of blepharospasm, ocular discharge, conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, conjunctival ulceration, and corneal epithelial ulceration was assessed on a 4-point scale. For all variables except conjunctival ulceration and corneal epithelial ulceration, 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe. For conjunctival ulceration and corneal epithelial ulceration, 0 = none, 1 = punctate ulcerations, 2 = ≥ 1 linear or dendritic ulceration, and 3 = geographic ulcerations. On each examination day, a single cumulative ocular surface disease clinical score (ocular clinical disease score) was calculated for each dog. For dogs that had nonsymmetric ocular disease on any given examination, the highest score was used for statistical analyses.
In vivo confocal microscopic examination—For each dog, in vivo confocal microscopic examinationsl of the cornea and conjunctiva of both eyes were performed by use of a 63X objectivem and 400-μm field lens immediately before study initiation and on day 10. For each eye, the examination was performed following the application of 1 drop of topical anesthetic (0.5% proparacaine ophthalmic solution) and several drops of contact gel to the ocular surface. A sterile, single-use polymethylmethacrylate capn mounted on the microscope lens was positioned perpendicular to and in slight contact with the ocular surface. The polymethylmethacrylate cap was changed after each dog was examined.
Multipoint corneal and conjunctival imaging was performed with a combination of manual and automated image acquisition modes. Following acquisition, digitized images were analyzed for pathological lesions. Images of standardized anatomic locations were acquired, and an investigator (ECL) who was blinded to the treatment group assignment of each dog assigned a leukocyte infiltration score to each image as described.27 Images of the basal corneal epithelium acquired 1.0 mm anterior to the 12 o'clock superior limbal position were used to assess keratitis. Images of the surface conjunctival epithelium acquired 1.0 mm posterior to the 12 o'clock superior limbal position were used to assess conjunctivitis. Leukocytes were quantified (number of leukocytes/mm2 of tissue) in 3 corneal images from each eye by use of semiautomated cell-counting software.o Leukocytes were also quantified in 3 conjunctival images from each eye; however, because distinct leukocyte cell borders are difficult to distinguish in conjunctival images, a 4-point semiquantitative scoring system was used to describe conjunctival infiltrates, where 0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = marked.
Sample collection—From each dog, blood samples for a CBC (approx 2.0 mL) and serum biochemical profile (approx 2.0 mL) were collected by peripheral venipuncture immediately before study initiation and on days 15 and 30. Following clinical ocular disease scoring, but before lissamine green stain application, conjunctival swab specimens for detection of CHV-1 by PCR assay were collected from both eyes by brushing sterile polyester-tipped swabs across the conjunctival fornices. The swab specimens were collected at 3-day intervals for the duration of the study and stored in sterile tubes at −80°C until analysis.
CHV-1 real-time PCR assay—A real-time PCR assay was used to detect CHV-1 (viral shedding) in conjunctival swab specimens. The CHV-1–specific primers and probes used and the assay conditions have been described elsewhere.29 For each swab specimen, DNA was extracted with a commercial DNA extraction kitp and use of a 96-well magnetic bead–based process.q
Statistical analysis
For the in vitro experiment, indices of cytotoxicity and anti–CHV-1 efficacy were compared between ganciclovir-treated and control cells by use of Student t tests. For the in vivo experiment, regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the ocular clinical disease score and treatment group (ganciclovir and control) over time and within each study day; the appropriate transformation of time was considered prior to the analysis. Student t tests were used to compare the mean confocal conjunctivitis and keratitis (leukocyte infiltration) scores between the 2 treatment groups. Logistic regression was used to assess the effects of treatment group and study day on CHV-1 shedding (yes or no). All statistical analyses were performed with a statistical software package,r and values of P ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.
Results
In vitro cytotoxic and anti–CHV-1 effects of ganciclovir
Ganciclovir had significant cytotoxic effects on MDCK cell cultures only at the 2 highest concentrations (1,000 and 2,000μM) evaluated. Mean ± SD percentage cell viability of ganciclovir-treated cells relative to that of control cells was 92 ± 5% and 75 ± 8% at drug concentrations of 1,000 and 2,000μM, respectively. Ganciclovir did not significantly affect MDCK cell viability at concentrations < 1,000μM (Figure 1). The mean ± SD EC50 of ganciclovir against CHV-1 was 37.7 ± 1.1μ M (R2 = 0.949; Figure 2).
Mean ± SD relative cell viability for MDCK cell cultures that were treated with ganciclovir at serial 2-fold dilutions ranging from 0 to 2,000μM. There were at least 3 replicates for each ganciclovir dilution and the untreated control. Madin-Darby canine kidney cell cultures maintained in cell line medium, which consisted of DMEM with 1 g/L of glucose, l-glutamine, and sodium pyruvate that contained 10% fetal bovine serum and penicillin (200 U/mL)-streptomycin (200 μg/mL), were incubated with the assigned ganciclovir dilution for 68 hours. Then 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide dissolved in DMEM was added to each culture, and the cultures were incubated for an additional 4 hours to allow formazan crystal formation. The formazan crystals were dissolved with an equal volume of solubilization solution, and light absorbance was spectrophotometrically measured at 570 nm. Cell viability for untreated control cultures was set at 100% (dotted line). For each ganciclovir-treated cell culture, the relative cell viability was calculated as follows: (cell viability for that culture/100) × 100%. *Mean differs significantly (P ≤ 0.05) from 100%.
Citation: American Journal of Veterinary Research 79, 7; 10.2460/ajvr.79.7.762
Mean ± SD percentage of CHV-1–infected MDCK cell culture replicates that contained cytopathic effect following incubation with ganciclovir at serial 2-fold dilutions that ranged from 0 to 800μM. There were at least 3 replicates for each ganciclovir dilution. The CHV-1–infected cells were incubated with the assigned ganciclovir dilution for approximately 72 hours or until cytopathic effect was visible in control cells that were not treated with ganciclovir. The percentage of replicates that contained cytopathic effect was determined for each ganciclovir dilution. The solid line represents the line of best fit for the data and was used to determine the EC50 of ganciclovir for CHV-1 (dotted lines), which was 37.7 μM for this data set.
Citation: American Journal of Veterinary Research 79, 7; 10.2460/ajvr.79.7.762
In vivo efficacy of ganciclovir
Immediately before study initiation on day 1 (baseline), no abnormalities were detected on the basis of results of the physical examination, CBC, and serum biochemical profile for any dog. Likewise, no abnormalities were detected in either eye during the baseline ophthalmic examination for any dog. For both eyes of each dog, Schirmer I tear test results were greater than the reference cutoff (> 15 mm/min), corneal and conjunctival retention of lissamine green stain was not present, and no conjunctival or corneal abnormalities (leukocyte infiltration) were detected by in vivo confocal microscopy at baseline.
No overt systemic abnormalities were observed in any dog at any time during the study. No adverse effects associated with topical administration of either the ganciclovir or artificial tear ophthalmic gel were observed. Results of CBCs and serum biochemistry profiles were unremarkable for blood samples collected from all dogs on days 15 and 30.
For all dogs in both the ganciclovir and control groups, recurrent ocular CHV-1 infection was clinically evident by day 4 and was characterized by intermittent blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, and ocular discharge. The mean ocular clinical disease score was curvilinear over time for both treatment groups. It increased fairly rapidly and then declined slowly (Figure 3). The mean ocular clinical disease score peaked on day 6 for the ganciclovir group (mean ± SD score, 2.2 ± 1.2) and on day 8 for the control group (mean ± SD score, 4.2 ± 1.0). Beginning on day 8 and for the remainder of the study duration, the mean ocular clinical disease score for the ganciclovir group was significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower than that for the control group. During that time, the mean ocular clinical disease score for the ganciclovir group was, on average, 1.1 less than that for the treatment group (ie, the control group was the referent and the regression coefficient for ganciclovir group was 1.146). The intercept for the regression analysis did not differ significantly from 0; therefore, it was deleted from the analysis.
Mean ± SD cumulative ocular clinical disease score over time for adult dogs with experimentally induced recurrent ocular CHV-1 infection that, beginning on day 4, received 1 drop of 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic ointment gel (ganciclovir group; n = 5; gray bars) or 1 drop of artificial tear ophthalmic ointment gel (control group; 5; black bars) in each eye 5 times daily (at approx 3-hour intervals) for 7 days (days 4 through 10) and then 3 times daily (at approx 6-hour intervals) for another 7 days (days 11 through 17). Beginning on day 1, dogs with latent CHV-1 infection were treated with prednisolone (3.0 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) for 7 days to make the infection recrudesce. At 2-day intervals throughout the 30-day study period, the severity of blepharospasm, ocular discharge, conjunctival hyperemia, chemosis, conjunctival ulceration, and corneal epithelial ulceration was assessed on a 4-point scale. For all variables except conjunctival ulceration and corneal epithelial ulceration, 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe. For conjunctival ulceration and corneal epithelial ulceration, 0 = none, 1 = punctate ulcerations, 2 = ≥ 1 linear or dendritic ulcerations, and 3 = geographic ulcerations. For each dog, a single cumulative ocular clinical disease score was calculated at each evaluation. For dogs that had nonsymmetric ocular disease on any given evaluation, the highest score was used for statistical analyses.
Citation: American Journal of Veterinary Research 79, 7; 10.2460/ajvr.79.7.762
For the control group, CHV-1 was detected in conjunctival swab specimens obtained from 1 dog on day 3, 3 dogs on day 6, 4 dogs on day 9, 3 dogs on day 12, and 2 dogs on day 15. For the ganciclovir group, CHV-1 was detected in the swab specimens obtained from 2 dogs on day 6. The virus was not detected in swab specimens obtained from any dog on the other study days. The mean ± SD number of days that CHV-1 was detected was 0.4 ± 0.5 days for the ganciclovir group and 2.6 ± 1.7 days for the control group. The mean ± SD duration of CHV-1 shedding was 0.4 ± 0.5 days for the ganciclovir group and 6.2 ± 4.7 days for the control group. The odds that dogs in the ganciclovir group would shed CHV-1 (OR, 0.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.02 to 0.5; P = 0.005) was only 10% that for dogs in the control group.
In vivo confocal microscopy revealed leukocyte infiltration of the bulbar conjunctival epithelium and corneal basal epithelium in all 10 dogs on day 10 (Figure 4). On that day, the mean ± SD conjunctivitis score for the ganciclovir group (1.0 ± 0.9) was significantly (P < 0.001) less than that for the control group (2.8 ± 0.4). Likewise, the mean ± SD keratitis score for the ganciclovir group (103 ± 70 leukocytes/mm2) was significantly (P < 0.001) less than that for the control group (344 ± 130 leukocytes/mm2).
Representative in vivo confocal photomicrographs of the bulbar conjunctival epithelium (A and B) and corneal basal epithelium (C and D) obtained on day 10 for various dogs in the ganciclovir (B and D) and control (A and C) groups described in Figure 3. Leukocytes infiltrating the tissue appear as highly reflective and irregularly shaped cells. Leukocyte infiltration was considered moderate for dogs in the control group and mild for dogs in the ganciclovir group. Bar = 50 μm. See Figure 3 for remainder of key.
Citation: American Journal of Veterinary Research 79, 7; 10.2460/ajvr.79.7.762
Discussion
Results of the present study indicated that ganciclovir had in vitro activity against CHV-1 and effectively decreased the severity of clinical ocular disease and inflammation of ocular tissues when topically administered to dogs with experimentally induced recurrent ocular CHV-1 infection. The 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic gel evaluated was well tolerated by the study dogs, as evidenced by the fact that none of the dogs developed clinical evidence of local or systemic toxicosis. Those findings suggested that 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic gel was a safe and effective treatment option for dogs with ocular CHV-1 infections. A benefit of the ganciclovir ophthalmic gel evaluated in this study is that it is commercially marketed and readily available as a topical ophthalmic product and does not require pharmaceutical compounding as do many other ophthalmic antivirals used for topical application in veterinary medicine.30
Other antivirals used for topical treatment of dogs with ocular CHV-1 infections include idoxuridine, trifluridine, and cidofovir ophthalmic solutions.31,32 Clinically, 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic gel has been successfully used to treat a dog with CHV-1 dendritic ulcerative keratitis.a The dog of that reporta developed keratitis, which, on the basis of results of a PCR assay, was determined to be caused by CHV-1 while the dog was being treated with topical formulations of cyclosporine and tacrolimus for keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The ganciclovir gel was topically applied to both eyes 5 times daily for 4 weeks.a During a recheck ophthalmic examination performed 1 month later, the corneal ulcers had resolved, and PCR assay results for a conjunctival swab specimen were negative for CHV-1.a
In other studies, dogs with experimentally induced ocular CHV-1 infection were topically treated with 0.5% cidofovir27 and 1.0% trifluridine33 ophthalmic solutions. Twice-daily administration of cidofovir for 14 days reduced the duration of CHV-1 shedding from ocular tissues but exacerbated clinical ocular disease and corneoconjunctival inflammation.27 The signs of marked local ocular toxicosis associated with the concentration and formulation of cidofovir ophthalmic solution evaluated in that study27 preclude its routine clinical use in dogs with ocular CHV-1 infections. In the other study,33 dogs received trifluridine 6 times daily for 2 days and then 4 times daily for the subsequent 12 days. The trifluridine-treated dogs of that study33 tolerated the drug well and had decreased ocular clinical disease severity and decreased incidence and duration of ocular CHV-1 shedding, compared with control dogs that were treated with a placebo solution.
On the basis of the veterinary literature33 and results of the present study, both trifluridine 1.0% ophthalmic solution and ganciclovir 0.15% ophthalmic gel appear to be acceptable treatment options for dogs with clinical ocular CHV-1 infections. The administration frequency used for ganciclovir in the present study (1 drop 5 times daily for 7 days and then 3 times daily for an additional 7 days) was selected to approximate the general treatment recommendation for human patients with acute herpetic keratitis, which is 1 drop 5 times daily until corneal ulcers are healed and then 1 drop 3 times daily for another week.11 In vitro synergism between trifluridine and ganciclovir against HSV-1 has been described, and when the 2 drugs are used in combination, the anti-HSV-1 effect is achieved at lower doses of both drugs than when either drug is used alone.34 It is currently unknown whether a similar phenomenon occurs against CHV-1, but if it does, combination treatment might allow for a decrease in the frequency of drug application. Thus, topical administration of various combinations of antiviral agents warrants investigation in dogs with ocular CHV-1 infections.
The efficacy of topical ganciclovir administration for the treatment of HSV-1 keratitis is well established in both preclinical and clinical studies.35–40 In rabbits with experimentally induced HSV-1 keratitis, ganciclovir ameliorated clinical ocular disease and reduced the duration of viral shedding in the tear film without causing any evidence of ocular toxicosis.35–37 In one of those studies,35 no significant differences in treatment efficacy were observed between rabbits that were treated with a 0.1% ganciclovir formulation and those treated with a 1.0% ganciclovir formulation. In another study18 in which rabbits with experimentally induced HSV-1 keratitis were treated with 0.2%, 0.05%, or 0.0125% ganciclovir gel, corneal ulcer healing was quickest for eyes treated with the 0.05% gel. The safety, tolerability, and efficacy of 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic gel for the treatment of human patients with acute HSV-1 keratitis have also been evaluated,38–40 and a recent review41 of the human medical literature suggests that ganciclovir ophthalmic gel should be considered one of the first-line treatments for patients with acute ocular herpetic infections.
The EC50 of ganciclovir for the CHV-1 strain used in this study was 37.7μM, which is greater than the EC50 of ganciclovir for other alphaherpesviruses such as certain strains of HSV-134 (EC50 range, 0.4 to 1.6μM), feline herpesvirus type-142 (EC50, 5.2μM), and equine herpesvirus type-143 (EC50 range, 0.39 to 1.56μM). The fairly high EC50 calculated in this study was consistent with the EC50 of ganciclovir for a CHV-1 strain isolated from the respiratory tract of a dog (> 32 μg/mL) and greater than the EC50 of ganciclovir for several other equine, human, swine, bovine, and feline herpesvirus isolates that were concurrently evaluated in another study.44 However, owing to the low in vitro toxicity of ganciclovir in MDCK cells and the lack of adverse effects observed in vivo for the ganciclovir-treated dogs of the present study, the fairly high EC50 of ganciclovir against CHV-1 would not be expected to preclude its clinical use in dogs with ocular CHV-1 infections.
In the present study, topical administration of 0.15% ganciclovir ophthalmic gel was well tolerated and effective in decreasing clinical disease scores, ocular tissue inflammation, and duration of viral shedding in dogs with experimentally induced ocular CHV-1 infection. The concurrent administration of prednisolone to dogs during a portion of the in vivo experiment may have affected some of the observed variables, such as the absolute ocular clinical disease scores and confocal microscopy leukocyte infiltration scores. However, dogs in both the ganciclovir and control groups received the same dosage of prednisolone to recrudesce the experimentally induced latent CHV-1 infection; thus, comparisons between the 2 treatment groups were valid. Additionally, the established experimental model of ocular CHV-1 infection parallels naturally acquired disease, which commonly develops in dogs during treatment with immunosuppressive agents.2 7,33 Thus, topical administration of ganciclovir ophthalmic gel appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for dogs with ocular CHV-1 infections.
Acknowledgments
Supported by the Cornell University Research Grants Program in Animal Health. The funding agency did not have any involvement in the study design, data analysis and interpretation, or writing and publication of the manuscript.
ABBREVIATIONS
| CHV-1 | Canine herpesvirus-1 |
| DMEM | Dulbecco modified Eagle medium |
| EC50 | Half maximal effective concentration |
| HSV-1 | Herpes simplex virus-1 |
| MDCK | Madin-Darby canine kidney |
Footnotes
Appelboam H. A case of bilateral herpetic keratitis in a dog (abstr). Vet Ophthalmol 2014;17:E27–E28.
Cell Grow, Mediatech Inc, Manassas, Va.
Atlanta Biologicals, Flowery Branch, Ga.
Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY.
Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, Mo.
Ganciclovir, Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, Mo.
Zirgan, Bausch & Lomb Inc, Tampa, Fla.
Genteal lubricant eye gel, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp, East Hanover, NJ.
Kowa SL-17, Kowa Co, Tokyo, Japan.
Schirmer tear test standardized sterile strips, Intervet Inc, Summit, NJ.
Lissamine green ophthalmic strips, Contacare Ophthalmics & Diagnostics, Gujarat, India.
Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany.
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany.
TomoCap, Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany.
Rostock Cornea Module Software, version 1.3.3, Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany.
AM 1840, Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY.
Mag Max 96, Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY.
SPSS, version 24, IBM Statistical Software, White Plain, NY.
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