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[Protective action of remantadine in experimental influenzal-staphylococcal infection]
Abstract:
The effect of remantadine on the course of influenzal-staphylococcal infection was studied in white mice. When the drug was injected to the mice infected with remantadine-sensitive strain of influenza A virus and Staphylococcus the lethality decreased from 93.3% to 26.7%, the survival time increased from 3.8 to 10.1 days, the incidence of pneumonia decreased from 85.7% to 48.7%, the average intensity of pneumonia decreased from 66.4% to 9.9%, and virus titres in the lungs decreased by 3.5-4.0 lg EID50 (p less than 0.05). In the groups of mice infected with remantadine-resistant strain of influenza virus and Staphylococcus remantadine showed no significant effect on these parameters: the lethality decreased by 6.7% only, the average survival time increased only by 0.33 days, the incidence of pneumonia decreased by 9%, its intensity by 19.2%; influenza virus titres in the lung tissue did not change significantly.
Insights
Remantadine effectively treated influenza A virus and Staphylococcus infections in mice, reducing mortality and pneumonia. However, it showed no significant benefit against remantadine-resistant influenza strains.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Coinfections with influenza viruses and Staphylococcus are a significant cause of respiratory illness.
- Antiviral drugs are crucial for managing influenza, but resistance can emerge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of remantadine against a combined influenzal-staphylococcal infection in a murine model.
- To assess the impact of remantadine on mortality, disease progression, and viral load in influenza A virus and Staphylococcus aureus coinfection.
Main Methods:
- White mice were infected with either a remantadine-sensitive or remantadine-resistant strain of influenza A virus along with Staphylococcus.
- Remantadine treatment was administered, and outcomes including lethality, survival time, pneumonia incidence and intensity, and lung virus titers were measured.
Main Results:
- Remantadine significantly reduced lethality (93.3% to 26.7%), increased survival time (3.8 to 10.1 days), and decreased pneumonia incidence and intensity in mice infected with the remantadine-sensitive strain.
- In contrast, remantadine showed minimal effect on these parameters when mice were infected with the remantadine-resistant influenza strain, with only a slight decrease in lethality and survival time.
- Lung virus titers were significantly reduced (3.5-4.0 lg EID50) in the sensitive strain group, but not in the resistant strain group.
Conclusions:
- Remantadine demonstrates significant therapeutic potential against remantadine-sensitive influenza A virus and Staphylococcus coinfections in mice.
- The emergence of remantadine resistance in influenza A virus compromises the drug's efficacy, highlighting the importance of monitoring resistance patterns.