title: Influenza infection of the embryonated hen's egg/an alternative model for in vivo evaluation of antiviral compounds.
abstract: The embryonated hen's egg can be infected with influenza A virus in laboratory experiments leading to death of chick embryos within 8 days post infection. This model can be used for rapid and reliable in vivo evaluation of potential anti-influenza inhibitors. It offers a realistic alternative to experiments with small laboratory rodents. By an example of treatment with the antiviral drugs amantadine (CAS 665-66-7), rimantadine (CAS 1501-84-4) and zanamivir (CAS 139110-80-8), it could be demonstrated that chick embryos survive a lethal influenza A virus infection when these drugs are administered immediately before or after the infective agent is inoculated. In conclusion, the use of influenza virus-infected chick embryos for evaluation of new antiviral substances can lead to a considerable reduction in the number of small laboratory rodents required.
authors.affiliation: Hans-Knöll Institute for Natural Products Research, Jena, Germany. ahaertl@pmail.hki-jena.de
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Härtl
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauerbrei
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stelzner
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wutzler
mesh_terms: D000547:Amantadine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000821:virology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006146:Guanidines; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D011714:Pyrans; D012299:Rimantadine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D053243:Zanamivir
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006146:Guanidines; D011714:Pyrans; D012794:Sialic Acids; D012299:Rimantadine; D000547:Amantadine; D053243:Zanamivir