title: Prevention of Rift Valley fever in rhesus monkeys with interferon-alpha.
abstract: Prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of recombinant leukocyte A interferon (rIFN-alpha A) and Sendai virus-induced human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha) administered intramuscularly to Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV)-infected rhesus monkeys was studied. Clinical, virologic, immunologic, and hemostatic parameters were monitored. Five daily inoculations of 5 X 10(5) units of either interferon product per kilogram of body weight, initiated 24 hours before or 6 hours after RVFV infection, prevented or greatly suppressed viremia. No clinical signs of disease or laboratory evidence of impaired hemostasis was observed. Serum neutralizing antibody to RVFV was detected within 6 days of virus inoculation. Prophylactic administration of 5 X 10(4) or 5 X 10(3) units of rIFN-alpha A per kilogram also limited viremia, hepatocellular damage, and hemostatic derangement. Untreated, RVFV-infected, control monkeys developed high-titered viremia, clinical disease, and impaired hemostasis. These data suggest that rIFN-alpha A and HuIFN-alpha are effective in protecting RVFV-infected rhesus monkeys from viremia and hepatocellular damage and may be beneficial in human RVF infection.
authors.affiliation: Disease Assessment Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland 21701-5011.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morrill
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Cosgriff
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000276:immunology; D014766:Viremia / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins