Horizon 1 1 17 ACL : Articles dans des revues avec comité de lecture répertoriées par l'AERES Viruses 2213 [17 ] alphavirus arbovirus mayaro favipiravir antiviral drug 2021 fdi:010083796 ENG Viruses ISI:000726022400001 11 10.3390/v13112213 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010083796 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2022-01/010083796.pdf 13 Horizon (IRD) Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emergent alphavirus that causes MAYV fever. It is often associated with debilitating symptoms, particularly arthralgia and myalgia. MAYV infection is becoming a considerable health issue that, unfortunately, lacks a specific antiviral treatment. Favipiravir, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, has recently been shown to exert anti-MAYV activity in vitro. In the present study, the potential of Favipiravir to inhibit MAYV replication in an in vivo model was evaluated. Immunocompetent mice were orally administrated 300 mg/kg/dose of Favipiravir at pre-, concurrent-, or post-MAYV infection. The results showed a significant reduction in infectious viral particles and viral RNA transcripts in the tissues and blood of the pre- and concurrently treated infected mice. A significant reduction in the presence of both viral RNA transcript and infectious viral particles in the tissue and blood of pre- and concurrently treated infected mice was observed. By contrast, Favipiravir treatment post-MAYV infection did not result in a reduction in viral replication. Interestingly, Favipiravir strongly decreased the blood levels of the liver disease markers aspartate- and alanine aminotransferase in the pre- and concurrently treated MAYV-infected mice. Taken together, these results suggest that Favipiravir is a potent antiviral drug when administered in a timely manner. 052 ; 050 ; 080 UR224 / UR190 Guinée