EVALUATION OF PHYLLANTHUS-AMARUS AND PHYLLANTHUS-MADERASPATENSIS AS AGENTS FOR POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS IN NEONATAL DUCK HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION

The therapeutic potential of plant extracts of Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus maderas patensis for postexposure prophylaxis against infe ction by Hepadnaviruses was studied in ducklings infected by the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV). Forty-four Pekin ducklings were inoculated i ntraperitoneally with DHBV at 24 hr post-hatch. They were treated by i ntraperitoneal injection of Phyllanthus amarus (aqueous extract) (100 mg/kg body weight) or Phyllanthus mad eraspatensis (alcoholic extract) (100 mg/kg body weight) for a period of 4 weeks. Infected ducklings t reated with saline served as controls. Weekly serum samples obtained b efore, during, and after treatment were analysed for the presence of D HBV DNA in serum by dot blot hybridisation using alpha P-32-labelled p robes. Liver tissue was collected after killing the ducks at various t ime intervals and was studied for replicative status of the viral DNA and liver histopathology; 17 of 21 ducks were viraemic on completion o f treatment with Phyllanthus amarus. At 16 week posttreatment follow-u p four of seven animals remained viraemic. Similar results were obtain ed with Phyllanthus maderaspatensis. There was no alteration in DHBV r eplication in the liver. No toxicity was observed with this treatment. These observations suggest that Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus ma deraspatensis are not useful as therapeutic agents for post-exposure p rophylaxis against DHBV infection.