4-GUANIDINO-NEU5AC2EN FAILS TO PROTECT CHICKENS FROM INFECTION WITH HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA-VIRUS

The effectiveness of the novel sialidase inhibitor 4-guanidino-Neu5Ac2 en, which is highly effective in mouse and ferret models of influenza virus infection (von Itzstein et al. (1993) Nature 363, 418-423), has been assessed as a prophylactic agent in the prevention of infection o f chickens with highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. At best a s mall delay in the onset of pyrexia and death was observed with one str ain of fowl plague virus, but not with two other strains. These result s demonstrate that a locally acting drug may be ineffective if virus c an escape from the site of inoculation and replicate elsewhere.