Chloroquine Administration Does Not Prevent Nipah Virus Infection and Disease in Ferrets

• DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01847-09
• Publication Date: 2009-09-17T01:09:57Z
• Authors: Jackie Pallister; Deborah Middleton; Gary Crameri; Manabu Yamada; Reuben Klein; Tim J. Hancock; Adam Foord; Brian Shiell; Wojtek Michalski; Christopher C. Br...; Lin-Fa Wang
• Keywords: Henipavirus Infections; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Ferrets; Nipah Virus; Animals; Humans; RNA, Viral; Chloroquine; Antiviral Agents; Animal Diseases; 3. Good health

ABSTRACT

Hendra virus and Nipah virus, two zoonotic paramyxoviruses in the genus Henipavirus , have recently emerged and continue to cause sporadic disease outbreaks in humans and animals. Mortality rates of up to 75% have been reported in humans, but there are presently no clinically licensed therapeutics for treating henipavirus-induced disease. A recent report indicated that chloroquine, used in malaria therapy for over 70 years, prevented infection with Nipah virus in vitro. Chloroquine was assessed using a ferret model of lethal Nipah virus infection and found to be ineffective against Nipah virus infection in vivo.