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Journal of General Virology header logo Journal of General Virology

Volume 91, Issue 12

ribavirin activity against severe pandemic H1N1 influenza A/Mexico/4108/2009 No Access

Abstract

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 day 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.

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/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.024323-0
2010-12-01
2025-05-18
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In vivo ribavirin activity against severe pandemic H1N1 influenza A/Mexico/4108/2009
J. Gen. Virol. 91, 2898 (2010); https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.024323-0
/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.024323-0
/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.024323-0
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vol. , part 12, pp. 2898 - 2906

Comparison of survival data of mice infected with A/Mexico/4108/2009 with and without ribavarin treatment

Comparison of survival data of mice infected with A/Mexico/4108/2009 with administration of 40 mg ribavirin kg day at different time points post-infection

Comparison of survival data of mice infected with A/Mexico/4108/2009 and treated with various concentrations of ribavirin administered at the time of infection [Single PDF file](53 KB)

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