FIG. 2.

Oral administration of l-FMAU inhibits DHBV viremia in experimentally infected ducklings. Ducklings at 5 days of age were inoculated with a DHBV-positive serum specimen. l-FMAU was given orally at day 3 postinoculation by two different protocols. A group of four ducklings received l-FMAU at a dosage of 40 mg/kg once a day from day 3 to day 7 postinoculation (5 days of treatment). A second group of four ducklings was given l-FMAU at a dosage of 40 mg/kg once a day from day 3 postinoculation for 8 days. A third group of four ducklings served as controls. (A) Analysis of viremia levels. Viral DNA in serum was analyzed by a dot blot assay. The level of mean viral DNA in serum in each group of animals was plotted. (B) Analysis of lactic acid levels. The lactic acid levels in experimentally infected birds were determined before inoculation and at days 7, 10, 12, and 14 postinoculation. The mean serum lactic acid concentration in each group of animals was plotted.