title: Postinfection therapy of arbovirus infections in mice.
abstract: Most antiviral agents are efficacious prophylactically in vivo, and a few are efficacious for postinfection (p.i.) therapy. To explore possibilities for p.i. therapy of encephalogenic Banzi virus (BZV) and Semliki Forest virus infections in mice, we evaluated candidate antiviral therapies after development of the first clinical signs of infection. The earliest clinical indication of BZV viremia in mice is a rise in core body temperature beginning on day 3 p.i. BZV-infected mice showing elevated core body temperatures (greater than or equal to 37.3 degrees C) on days 3 and 4 p.i. were treated intraperitoneally with the interferon inducer poly(ICLC) (80 micrograms per mouse) and/or specific antiserum. Combined therapy on day 3 of a BZV infection protected over 75% of mice showing clinical evidence of viral disease before treatment. Protection against early brain infection must occur on day 4 p.i., since by that day BZV has started multiplying in the brains of the mice. Significant protection occurred with antiserum alone and increased with poly(ICLC). Similar protection was obtained during Semliki Forest virus viremia, but this infection is so rapid that the first clinical signs are reliably detectable only after viremia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Coppenhaver
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarzotti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sriyuktasuth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poast
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001102:Arbovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011107:Polylysine / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011107:Polylysine; C019531:poly ICLC; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; D011070:Poly I-C