Studio sull’attivita’ antivirale in vitro della ribavirina nei confronti di Betanodavirus

Ribavirin, a broad spectrum antiviral agent, was tested in vitro against a RNA virus belonged to Betanodavirus genus. This virus is generally prevalent in hatchery-reared larvae and juveniles of a variety of marine fish species and it causes heavy mortalities with complete destruction of fish population. Ribavirin citotoxicity was determined and the antiviral activity was recorded evaluating the reduction of cytopathic effect in SSN-1 cell line. The antiviral activity was also tested by quantification of virus yield with titration. Ribavirin showed to be active against the replication of Betanodavirus.