LONG-TERM THERAPY WITH THE GUANINE NUCLEOSIDE ANALOG PENCICLOVIR CONTROLS CHRONIC DUCK HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION IN-VIVO

Ducks congenitally infected with duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) were tr eated with the antiviral guanine nucleoside analog penciclovir for 12 or 24 weeks at a dosage of 10 mg/kg of body weight per day. By the com pletion of both 12 and 24 weeks of therapy, molecular hybridization st udies of the liver tissue revealed that the viral DNA, RNA, and protei n levels were significantly reduced compared to those in the placebo-t reated controls. Penciclovir treatment for 12 or 24 weeks was not asso ciated with any toxicity, establishing the efficacy and safety of long -term penciclovir therapy in chronic DHBV infection.