In vivo ribavirin activity against severe pandemic H1N1 Influenza A/Mexico/4108/2009.
The use of ribavirin in influenza treatment is a matter of debate. Due to adamantine- and oseltamivir-resistant strains of the current pandemic H1N1 (pdmH1N1) influenza viruses, the demand for alternative antiviral treatments has increased. This study demonstrated the potent antiviral effects of ribavirin in a mouse model of pdmH1N1 influenza infection (A/Mexico/4108/2009). It was found that treatment with 40 mg ribavirin kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ partially protected the animals if initiated immediately upon infection. Administration of similar concentrations on subsequent days or immediate therapy with lower doses efficiently delayed disease progression. Correlation studies showed a direct relationship between low viral titres in the lung during the early stages of infection with animal survival in ribavirin-treated animals. Reduced lung pathology in animals treated with ribavirin following infection also indicated the importance of immediate treatment. This study revealed the antiviral properties of ribavirin and these results justify comprehensive clinical studies for the use of ribavirin against influenza virus in future outbreaks.
Rowe
Thomas
T
Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Banner
David
D
Farooqui
Amber
A
Ng
Derek C K
DC
Kelvin
Alyson A
AA
Rubino
Salvatore
S
Huang
Stephen Shih Hsien
SS
Fang
Yuan
Y
Kelvin
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin