Effects of an interferon inducer, poly I:C, on acute ocular infection produced by intracameral inoculation of Toxoplasma gondii.
A potent interferon inducer, synthetic polyinosinic acid-polycytidylic acid complex (poly I:C), was used prophylactically and therapeutically in experimental ocular Toxoplasma infections in rabbits. Daily intravenous injections of poly I:C alone or when combined with daily subconjunctival injections of the inducer delayed the appearance of conjunctivitis, corneal opacity, and iritis in Toxoplasma-infected eyes provided that the treatment was started 1 day before the infection. When the treatment was begun at the same time or 1 day after the infection, no delay in the production of the ocular lesions was noted. In no case was the treatment curative or completely suppressive.
D000818:Animals; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000209:etiology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007369:Interferon Inducers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007500:Iritis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007372:Interferons; D011070:Poly I-C