Antiviral efficacy of EICAR against canine distemper virus (CDV) in vitro.
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious pathogen of carnivores. In dogs, the disease is characterized by high lethality rates and no specific antiviral therapy is available. The aim of this study was to verify the in vitro antiviral activity of the 5-ethynyl-1-beta-d-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide (EICAR) and to compare it with the 1-(beta-d-ribofuranosyl)-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (ribavirin, RBV). EICAR was more active than RBV against CDV replication, while both molecules exhibited low selectivity indexes. A reversal of their antiviral activity was observed after addition of guanosine, suggesting their involvement in the inhibition of the inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase enzyme (IMPDH). RBV and EICAR had a time- and concentration-dependent anti-CDV activity, mainly displayed during the first 10h post-infection. The involvement of the inhibition of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (vRdRp) is discussed, as well as the role of CDV as a model to study more potent and selective antiviral molecules active against other Paramyxoviridae.
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Pathology, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emila, Bologna, Italy.
Fabiana
F
Dal Pozzo
Viola
V
Galligioni
Francesca
F
Vaccari
Laura
L
Gallina
Mara
M
Battilani
Alessandra
A
Scagliarini
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012263:Ribonucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014709:Vero Cells
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012263:Ribonucleosides; C059077:5-ethynyl-1-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide; D012254:Ribavirin