The Effect of Interferon and Interferon Inducers on Avian Influenza

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Abstract
The effects of interferon and interferon inducers on infection due to avian influenza virus in six-week-old chickens was studied after intratracheal administration of virus. Influenza A, avian type 5 T/ONT/6828 was shown to be as sensitive as bovine vesicular stomatitis virus to the antiviral activity of chicken interferon, polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C), and statolon when tested in cell cultures of chick-embryo fibroblasts. In vivo, only systemic statolon was an effective inducer of interferon, and only with this drug was a protective effect observed. In contrast, bis-DEAE-fluorenone and poly I:C did not produce circulating interferon, nor did they protect the chickens from challenge with the influenza virus. Similarly, intratracheal administration of the interferon inducers was not protective. Results of treatment with exogenous interferon suggests that the protective effects observed with the systemic statolon are likely to be mediated by its interferon-inducing capacity.

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