Ribavirin Inhibits Parrot Bornavirus 4 Replication in Cell Culture

Abstract

Parrot bornavirus 4 is an etiological agent of proventricular dilatation disease, a fatal neurologic and gastrointestinal disease of psittacines and other birds. We tested the ability of ribavirin, an antiviral nucleoside analog with antiviral activity against a range of RNA and DNA viruses, to inhibit parrot bornavirus 4 replication in duck embryonic fibroblast cells. Two analytical methods that evaluate different products of viral replication, indirect immunocytochemistry for viral specific nucleoprotein and qRT-PCR for viral specific phosphoprotein gene mRNA, were used. Ribavirin at concentrations between 2.5 and 25 μg/mL inhibited parrot bornavirus 4 replication, decreasing viral mRNA and viral protein load, in infected duck embryonic fibroblast cells. The addition of guanosine diminished the antiviral activity of ribavirin suggesting that one possible mechanism of action against parrot bornavirus 4 may likely be through inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibition. This study demonstrates parrot bornavirus 4 susceptibility to ribavirin in cell culture.

Occupation-Associated Fatal Limbic Encephalitis Caused by Variegated Squirrel Bornavirus 1, Germany, 2013

“…No curative treatment has been established for human bornavirus infections. Ribavirin, which has shown in vitro effectiveness against various bornaviruses ( 26 – 28 ), was not administered to the patient we describe. In the VSBV-1 encephalitis cluster among squirrel breeders ( 10 ), ribavirin had been given to 1 person but had no clinical effect.…”

“…Moreover, for patients with signs of limbic encephalitis without underlying autoimmunopathology (seronegative limbic encephalitis), differential diagnostics should be adapted, possible infection with VSBV-1 should be investigated, and patients should be asked whether they have had contact with exotic squirrels. According to results of in vitro studies with other bornaviruses ( 26 – 28 ), early and extended treatment with ribavirin might be considered for humans with VSBV-1 infection.…”

Viral vector vaccines expressing nucleoprotein and phosphoprotein genes of avian bornaviruses ameliorate homologous challenge infections in cockatiels and common canaries

“…Interferon-α and Ribavirin were shown to efficiently inhibit avian bornaviruses in cell culture, but confirmation in vivo is lacking242526. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate vaccines for the protection against avian bornavirus infections and subsequent disease.…”

Preparation of mouse anti‑human rotavirus VP7 monoclonal antibody and its protective effect on rotavirus infection

“…The products then inhibit or reduce viral synthetases, mRNA guanosine transferase, inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase and guanosine triphosphate in cells (38). This affects the synthesis of viral proteins and formation of viral RNA, thereby inhibiting virus replication and proliferation and effectively treating RV-induced intestinal inflammation, alleviating clinical symptoms (39). In the current study, the sample size was small and the selected outcome indicator only included a feces RV antigen test without comparisons of certain clinical symptoms, including stool frequency.…”