Genetic Variation of the VP1 Gene of the Virulent Duck Hepatitis A Virus Type 1(DHAV-1) Isolates in Shandong Province of China

To investigate the relationship of the variation of virulence and the external capsid proteins of the pandemic duck hepatitis A virus type 1(DHAV-1) isolates,the virulence,cross neutralization assays and the complete sequence of the virion protein 1(VP1) gene of nine virulent DHAV-1 strains,which were isolated from infected ducklings with clinical symptoms in Shandong province of China in 2007-2008,were tested.The fifth generation duck embryo allantoic liquids of the 9 isolates were tested on 12-day-old duck embryos and on 7-day-old ducklings for the median embryonal lethal doses(ELD 50 s) and the median lethal doses(LD 50 s),respectively.The results showed that the ELD 50 s of embryonic duck eggs of the 9 DHAV-1 isolates were between 1.9 × 10 6 /mL to 1.44 × 10 7 /mL,while the LD 50 s were 2.39 × 10 5 /mL to 6.15 × 10 6 /mL.Cross-neutralization tests revealed that the 9 DHAV-1 isolates were completely neutralized by the standard serum and the hyperimmune sera against the 9 DHAV-1 isolates,respectively.Compared with other virulent,moderate virulent,attenuated vaccine and mild strains,the VP1 genes of the 9 strains shared 89.8%-99.7% similarity at the nucleotide level and 92.4%-99.6% at amino acid level with other DHAV-1 strains.There were three hypervariable regions at the C-terminus(aa 158-160,180-193 and 205-219) and other variable points in VP1 protein,but which didn't cause virulence of DHAV-1 change.

The Effect of Gankang Suppository on Duck Hepatitis B Virus, Serum Biochemistry and Liver Histology in Ducklings

To examine the effect of Gankang Suppository on duck hepatitis B virus （DHBV）, the serum biochemistry and hepatic histology in an animal model of DHBV infection, a model of DHBV infection was established by infecting 1-day-old Yingtaogu ducklings with DHBV-positive serum. The successful model was confirmed by PCR assay and 48 ducklings infected with DHBV were randomly divided into 3 groups： a Gankang Suppository treatment group, an acyclovir （ACV） group and a DHBV model group （control）, with each group having 16 animals. All the animals were given the medicines for 4 weeks in a row. The serum of the animals was taken 14 and 28 days after the medica- tion and 7 days after drug discontinuation. Real-time PCR was performed to detect the copy numbers of DHBV DNA in the serum. ALT and AST were dynamically monitored. The ducklings were sacrificed on the 7th day after the discontinuation of the treatment and livers were harvested and examined for inflammation and degeneration of liver cells by using HE staining. The results showed that on day 14, 28 after the treatment and day 7 after the withdrawal, the logarithmic values （log） of DHBV DNA copy numbers in ducklings of Gankang Suppository treatment group were significantly lower than that before the treatment （P=0.0092, P=0.0070, P=0.0080, respectively）. Compared with DHBV model control group, the ALT level was significantly decreased （P=0.0020, P=0.0019, respectively） on day 28 after the treatment and on day 7 after the withdrawal. The AST level was also reduced on day 14 after the treatment （P=0.0298）. Compared with the ACV control group, the level of ALT was lower on day 7 after the withdrawal （P=0.0016）. Histologically, the hepatocyte swelling, vacuolous degeneration and acidophilic degeneration in Gankang Suppository treatment group were alleviated 7 days after the withdrawal as compared with model control group （P=0.0282, P=0.0084, P=0.0195, respectively）. It is concluded that Gankang Suppository can effectively suppress DHBV replication, reduce the levels of serum ALT and AST and improve hepatic histology.

Isolation,Identification and Pathogenic Characteristics of Duck Hepatitis Virus Isolates

[ Objective] The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the pathogen and the reasons of duck viral hepatitis which is prevalent recently and difficult to control. [Method] Viruses were isolated from livers and spleens of ducks with typical clinical symptoms in Linyi, Weifang, Binzhou and other regions of Shandong Province. The pathogenic characteristics were observed by inoculation in chicken or duck embryo, RT- PCR, serological test, and duck regression. [ Result] Four duck hepatitis virus （DHV） strains were isolated, and the 5th passage allantoic fluid contained 10^3.41 -10^5.20 ELD50/mI. The serum cross protection rate was 20% -80% between the DHV stains and DHV type I. The mortalities of 4- day-old healthy ducks challenged by these four stains were 50% -100%. All challenged ducks had typical lesions of duck viral hepatitis, and the death peak appeared after 24-48 h. [Conclusion] The virulence of different DHV isolates has regional difference.

Molecular Characterization and SYBR Green I-Based Quantitative PCR for Duck Hepatitis Virus Type 1

To determine the genomic sequence of a duck hepatitis virus type 1 （DHV-1） strain, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （RTQ-PCR） assay based on SYBR Green I technology was developed to target 3D gene of DHV-1, Comparative sequence analysis showed that the genome has a typical picornarivus genetic organization, and strain DHV-1 R genetic organaiztion is 5＇ untranslated region （UTR）-VP0-VP3-VPI-2A1-2A2-2B-2C-3A-3B-3C-3D-3＇ UTR, DHV-1 R has close relationship with Parechovirus, and has 95.1-99.1% nucleotide sequence identity with other DHV-1 strains. Based on the DHV-1 sequences in GenBank, three pairs of specific primers were designed to amplify DHV-1 using real-time PCR. The results showed that real-time PCR Tm value is 85.6℃ and the real-time PCR provides a broad dynamic range, detecting from 102 to 109 copies of DHV-1 cDNA per reaction. No cross-reactions were found in specimens containing DPV, AIV and NDV. It is concluded that DHV-1 belongs to a new group of the family Picornaviridae that may form a separate genus most closely related to the genus Parechovirus. All results showed that the real-time PCR has high sensitivity and specificity to detect DHV-1 using SYBR Green I dissociation curve analysis, isolates can be distinguished by their melting temperature. These methods are rapid, sensitive, and reliable, and can be readily adapted for detection of DHV-1 from other clinical samples.

Replication of hepatitis B virus in primary duck hepatocytes transfected with linear viral DNA

AIM: To explore the expression and replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in primary duck hepatocytes (PDHs).METHODS: Complete HBV genome was transfected into PDHs by electroporation (transfected group, 1.19×1012copies of linear HBV DNA/1×107 PDHs). After 1-5 d of transfection, HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatant and lysate of PDHs were measured with the IMX System.Meanwhile, replicative intermediates of HBV DNA were analyzed by Southern blotting and Dot blotting. PDHs electroporated were used as control group.RESULTS: HBsAg in the hepatocyte lysates of transfected group was 15.24 (1 d), 14.55 (3 d) and 5.13 (5 d; P/N values, positive≥2.1) respectively. HBeAg was negative (＜2.1). Both HBsAg and HBeAg were negative in the supernatant of transfected group. Dot blotting revealed that HBV DNA was strongly positive in the transfected group and negative in the control group. Southern blot analysis of intracellular total DNA indicated that there were relaxed circular (rc DNA), covalently closed circular (ccc DNA), and single-stranded (ss DNA) HBV DNA replicative intermediates in the transfected group, there was no integrated HBV DNA in the cellular genome. These parameters were negative in control group.CONCLUSION: Expression and replication of HBV genes can occur in hepatocytes from non-mammalian species.HBV replication has no critical species-specificity, and yet hepatic-specific regulating factors in hepatocytes may be essential for viral replication.

Complete Genomic Sequence of a Chinese Isolate of Duck Hepatitis Virus

The complete genomic sequence of Duck hepatitis virus 1(DHV-1) ZJ-V isolate was sequenced and determined to be 7 691 nucleotides(nt) in length with a 5'-terminal un-translated region(UTR) of 626 nt and a 3'-terminal UTR of 315 nt(not including the poly(A) tail).One large open reading frame(ORF) was found within the genome(nt 627 to 7 373) coding for a polypeptide of 2 249 amino acids.Our data also showed that the poly(A) tail of DHV-1 has at least 22 A's.Sequence comparison revealed significant homology(from 91.9% to 95.7%) between the protein sequences of the ZJ-V isolate and those of 21 reference isolates.Although DHV-1 has been classified as an unassigned virus in the Picornaviridae family,its genome showed some unique characteristics.DHV-1 contains 3 copies of the 2A gene and only 1 copy of the 3B gene,and its 3'-NCR is longer than those of other picornaviruses.Phylogenetic analysis to do sequence homology based on the VP1 protein sequences showed that the ZJ-V isolate shares high sequence homology with the reported DHV-1 isolates(from 92.9% to 99.2%),indicating that DHV-1 is genetically stable.

The Potential of Duck Hepatitis Virus(DHV-1) Stimulating the Body Weight Gain and the Effects of Silymarin on It in Duckling

To evaluate the effects of duck hepatitis virus-1 （DHV-1） on the body weight gain in duck and the effects of silymarin on it in vivo, 100 10-d-old ducks, both male and female, were collected to be subjected to the test. The experiments were conducted in 8 groups： in group 1-3, the animals were inoculated with 1：105 diluted duck hepatitis virus （DHV-1） infected allantoic fluid and given 0, 30, and 50 mg kg^-1 BW d^-1 silymarin orally, respectively. In group 4-6, the animals were inoculated with 1：5 × 105 diluted DHV-1 infected allantoic fluid and given 0, 10, and 30 mg kg^-1 BW d^-1 silymarin orally, respectively. In group 7, the animals were given 10 mg kg^-1 BW d^-1 silymafin only. Group 8 was the control one treated by injecting sterillized saline into the leg muscles. All the silymarin was given from 0 to 4 d after inoculation of the virus. By the 5th d after inoculation, the vein blood was drawn from the dorsal foot vein and the plasma samples were collected and stored at -20℃. The body weight gain （BWG） was measured from 0 to 10 d after inoculation. The plasma IGF-I, T3, and T4 concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay （RIA）. At the virus dose of 1：5 ×105 diluted virus infected allantoic fluid, the inoculation of the virus enhanced the BWG significantly compared with that of the control （P〈 0.01）, while 10-50 mg kg^-1 BW d^-1 silymarin could counteract the effects of the virus on the BWG dose-dependently. The plasma IGF-I levels showed no correlation with the BWG, but the T3 levels showed a same tropism with the body weight gain. The present results indicated that sublethal DHV-1 enhanced the body weight gain of ducklings significantly, and the silymarin could counteract this effect in vivo.

Molecular Characterization of Duck Hepatitis B Virus Isolated from Hubei Brown Ducks

The objective of this study was to characterize the genome structure of duck hepatitis B virus （DHBV） isolated from Hubei brown ducks. The natural carrier rate of DHBV in adult ducks from Hubei area was investigated and the DHBV DNA-positive serum screened out. The complete genome of a DHBV strain was amplified by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and cloned into T vector and sequenced. The results showed that the carrier rate of DHBV in Hubei brown ducks was 10 % This strain （GenBank accession number DQ276978） had a genome of 3024 nucleotides with three overlapping open reading frames encoding the surface, core and polymerase proteins respectively. Comparison of the strain with 17 DHBV strains registered in GenBank revealed a homology from 89.3 % to 93.5 % at the nucleotide level. The sequences of the structural and functional domains of these proteins were highly conserved. The strain was found to share more signature amino acids in the polymerase genes with the ＂Chinese＂ DHBV strains than those of the ＂Western＂ country strains. This finding was also corroborated by a phylogenetic tree analysis. Therefore, the DQ276978 might belong to a subtype of the Chinese DHBV strains.

Development of RT PCR Assay for Detection of Duck Hepatitis Virus Type 1

In this study,a RT-PCR assay for rapid detection of duck hepatitis virus type 1( DHV-1) was established in the presence of a pair of primers designed based on vp1 gene sequence,using the genomic RNA of DHV-1 or other common viruses as the template. The template was serially diluted 10-fold to determine the reaction sensitivity. Finally,seven liver samples of ducks with suspected DHV-1 infection,which were collected from different regions of Jiangsu Province,were detected with this method. The results showed that a DNA fragment of about 360 bp was specifically amplified with the RT-PCR system,and the detection limit was1 fg/μL. The detection rate of clinical samples with this method was 100%. The results revealed that the RT-PCR system which had high specificity and high sensitivity in the detection of DHV-1 was successfully established.

DUCK HEPATITIS B VIRUS DNA WITHIN HEPATIC MULTICENTRIC CANCER AND/OR METASTATIC CANCER

Duck hepatitis B vims (DHBV) DNA was detected in different tumorous nodules of ducks with hepatic multicentric cancer or intrahepatic metastasis by Southern blot technique. Among 7 ducks with hepatocellular carcinoma of multiple tumor nodules, the hybridization pattern of Integrated DHBV DNA In different tumorous nodules was identical in 3 cases and different in 2 cases. One case showed a similar hybridization pattern in two tumorous nodules and other one was negative tor DHBV DNA. Integrated DHBV DNA was also identified in a metastatic lung cancer of ducks with hepatocellular carcinoma. The hybridization pattern of metastasis of lungs was as the some as that in primary hepatocellular carcinoma. The same discrete hybridization bands In the different tumorous nodules indicate that these nodules might arise from one transformed cell. The different hybridization patterns In various tumorous nodules show that these tumorous nodules might arise from various transformed cells. The results suggest that the hybridization pattern of different nodules of hepatocellular carcinoma with viral DNA probe could make a cell clone origin marker of tumor nodule to differentiate hepatic multlcentric cancer from Intrahepatic metastatic cancer.

Therapeutic effect of Styela plicata on duck hepatitis B virus in vivo

Objective:To evaluate the antiviral activity of the alcohol extract of Styela plicata on DHBV (duck hepatitis B virus) in vivo. Methods: Guangzhou-Sheldrake ducklings congenitally infected with DHBV were assigned to receive the alcohol extract of Styela plicata or lamivudine for 30 consecutive days. The DHBV DNA of sera was detected by RT-PCR. and the histological analysis of duckling liver was evaluated. Results:Thirty days after therapy,histological analysis of duckling liver showed that the ducklings receiving the alcohol extract of Styela plicata or lamivudine exhibited catabatic status in the degree of liver cell degeneration and inflammation compared with the ducklings receiving normal diet. DHBV DNA of sera from alcohol extract of Styela plicata-treated ducklings and lamivudine-treated ducklings all produced significantly lower levels compared with ducklings receiving normal diet (P<0. 01 ). Although these treatment groups all exhibited a rebound phenomenon 10 d after withdrawal of medication, they still exhibited a significant lower level of serum DHBV DNA compared with the control group responded to normal diet (P<0. 05, P<0. 01). Conclusion:Styela plicata may be an effective antiviral medicine in treating chronic hepatitis B. The data of this experiment will be valuable in studying the therapeutic role and the potential therapeutic mechanism of Styela plicata.

Is hepatitis B-virucidal validation of biocides possible with the use of surrogates?

The hepatitis B virus(HBV)is considered to be a major public health problem worldwide,and a significant number of reports on nosocomial outbreaks of HBV infections have been reported.Prevention of indirect HBV transmission by contaminated objects is only possible through the use of infection-control principles,including the use of chemical biocides,which are proven to render the virus non-infectious.The virucidal activity of biocides against HBV cannot be predicted;therefore,validation of the virucidal action of disinfectants against HBV is essential.However,feasible HBV infectivity assays have not yet been established.Thus,surrogate models have been proposed for testing the efficacy of biocides against HBV.Most of these assays do not correlate with HBV infectivity.Currently,the most promising and feasible assay is the use of the taxonomically related duck hepatitis B virus(DHBV),which belongs to the same Hepadnaviridae virus family.This paper reviews the application of DHBV,which can be propagated in vitro in primary duck embryonic hepatocytes,for the testing of biocides and describes why this model can be used as reliable method to evaluate disinfectants for efficacy against HBV.The susceptibility levels of important biocides,which are often used as ingredients for commercially available disinfectants,are also described.

SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF DUCK HEPATITIS B VIRUS GENOME OF THE VARIANT ISOLATED FROM CHINESE DUCKS

Duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) and its prototype human hepatitis B virus (HBV) are members of the hepadnavirus family. They have several characteristics in common, such as viral genomic structure and replication mechanisms. But ducks, the DHBV natural host

DUCK HEPATITIS B VIRUS MODEL FOR SCREENING OF ANTIVIRAL AGENTS FROM MEDICINAL HERBS

The effects of the extracts of 20 Chinese medicinal herbs and an antiviral drug foscarnet on duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) endogenous DNA polymerase (DNAp) activity were compared. The extracts of P. urinaria showed a dose-dependent inhibition on DHBV DNAp. And those of other herbs showed little inhibition effect. Primary duck hepatocyte (PDH) cultures were used for evaluating effects of the extract of P. urinaria, foscarnet and acyclovir (ACV) on DHBV, and all the drugs or the extracts showed inhibition of DHBV DNA replication. Furthermore, in vivo trials were carried out. Peking ducks infected with LJ-76 strain of DHBV were treated with the extract of P. urinaria or ACV and compared with placebo treated control ducks. The treatment results in the loss or reduction of circulating viral DHBV DNA and DHBsAg.

2020—2023年山东地区13株3型鸭甲型肝炎病毒的分离鉴定及VP1基因序列分析

为研究2020—2023年山东地区3型鸭甲型肝炎病毒的流行变异情况,试验采集了山东地区13份疑似鸭肝炎病毒感染的病料,通过病毒分离、RT-PCR扩增鉴定,并进行VP1基因测序及遗传变异分析。结果显示:共分离到13株3型鸭甲型肝炎病毒,均属于GⅠa分支,且分属于GⅠa分支不同小分支,其中2020年分离株(20148、20149)与2021年商品肉鸭分离株(SP21042)核苷酸相似性在98.8%~100%;2023年商品鸭分离株(SP23012、SP23014、SP-2、SP-3、SP23009)核苷酸相似性在99.7%~100%;2021年种鸭分离株(21083)与2022年、2023年种鸭分离株(22443、22468、BL23028)、2023年商品鸭分离株(SP23010)核苷酸相似性在98.8%~99.4%,小分支内相似性均高于98.8%,不同小分支间相似性在96.9%~98.2%;2023年部分3型DHAV分离株VP1基因出现了个别氨基酸位点的突变。研究表明,山东地区分离的13株GⅠa分支鸭甲型肝炎病毒VP1基因出现了变异,需要加以关注。

芒果苷抗DHAV-1致鸭胚肝细胞炎性损伤的研究

【目的】探究芒果苷(mangiferin,Man)对鸭甲型肝炎病毒1型(Duck hepatitis A virus-1,DHAV-1)致鸭胚肝细胞(DEHCs)炎性损伤的影响。【方法】从14日龄SPF级麻鸭鸭胚肝脏组织分离原代DEHCs,用含不同浓度芒果苷(0、5、10、20、40、80和160μmol/L)的培养液培养48 h后,通过CCK-8法检测其安全浓度范围;用安全浓度的芒果苷培养DEHCs 12、24和48 h后,检测培养液上清中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的活力,判定芒果苷对DEHCs的毒性作用。将DEHCs分为对照组(Mock)、模型组(Model)、芒果苷组(Man10、Man20和Man40)和利巴韦林组(Rib),每组3个重复,所有组细胞血清饥饿培养12 h后,Mock组加入含10%胎牛血清(FBS)的DMEM培养基,Model、Man10、Man20、Man40和Rib组用DHAV-1(MOI=1.0)攻毒2 h后,Model组更换为含10%FBS的DMEM培养基,Man10、Man20、Man40培养基中分别添加10、20和40μmol/L芒果苷,Rib组添加1μmol/L利巴韦林。48 h后收集各组细胞,用比色法检测丙二醛(MDA)含量及过氧化氢酶(CAT)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、总一氧化氮合酶(T-NOS)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)的活性;免疫荧光(IF)法检测DHAV-1在各组DEHCs中的分布情况;Western blotting法检测NLRP3/Pro-Caspase1/IL-1β通路蛋白的表达情况。提取2日龄SPF麻鸭的新鲜全血,分离鸭外周血单个核细胞(duPBMCs),duPBMCs分组及处理同DEHCs,ELISA法检测各组duPBMCs上清液中白介素8(IL-8)和IL-1β的含量。【结果】与0μmol/L芒果苷组相比,80和160μmol/L芒果苷组细胞的增殖能力显著降低(P<0.05),因此5~40μmol/L芒果苷为处理DEHCs的安全给药浓度。20和40μmol/L芒果苷处理48 h细胞上清液中LDH活力显著低于处理12和24 h(P<0.05),20和40μmol/L芒果苷处理12和24 h细胞上清液中LDH活力显著高于5和10μmol/L芒果苷处理(P<0.05),各浓度芒果苷处理48 h细胞上清液中LDH活力均差异不显著(P>0.05),故48 h为最适处理时间。与Mock组相比,Model组DEHCs中CAT、T-AOC、SOD和GSH-Px活性均显著降低(P<0.05),DEHCs中MDA含量、T-NOS活性、DHAV-1拷贝数、DHAV-1阳性率、NLRP3表达量及duPBMCs中IL-8、IL-1β分泌量均显著升高(P<0.05)。与Model组相比,Man10、Man20和Man40组DEHCs中CAT、T-AOC、SOD和GSH-Px活性均显著提高(P<0.05),DEHCs中MDA含量、T-NOS活性、DHAV-1拷贝数、DHAV-1阳性率、NLRP3表达量及duPBMCs中IL-8、IL-1β分泌量均显著降低(P<0.05)。【结论】芒果苷可通过增加抗氧化能力、降低DHAV-1的复制水平、抑制NLRP3通路的激活、降低促炎细胞因子的释放抗DHAV-1感染DEHCs造成的炎性损伤。

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of DHBV DNA vaccines expressing envelope and capsid fusion proteins in ducks delivered by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium

Duck hepatitis B virus(DHBV) shares many basic characteristics with hepatitis B virus(HBV) and is an attractive model for vaccine development. In this study, DHBV DNA vaccines were designed to express envelope and capsid fusion proteins to enhance the breadth of immune response in ducks. Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium(SL7207) was used as a carrier and adjuvant to boost the magnitude of immune response. Based on this strategy, novel DNA vaccines(SL7207-p VAX1-LC and SL7207-p VAX1-SC) were generated. Growth kinetics, genetic stabilities and relative transcription levels of the L, S and C genes introduced by these vaccine strains were measured before inoculation to guarantee safety and efficacy. The relative transcript levels of the CD4 and CD8 T genes and the antibody levels(Ig Y) in ducks receiving the vaccines were higher than those in single gene delivered groups. Additionally, the copy number of covalently closed circular DNA in hepatocytes after DHBV challenge also provided evidence that our fusion vaccines could enhance the protective efficiency against DHBV infection in ducks.

Anti-hepatitis B Virus Activity of 8-epi-Kingiside in Jasminum officinale var. grandiflorum

Objective To evaluate the effect of 8-epi-kingiside (8-Epik) derived from the buds of Jasminum officinale var. grandiflorum (JOG) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in HepG2 2.2.15 cell line in vitro and duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) replication in ducklings in vivo. Methods The concentration of extracellular hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in cell culture medium was determined by ELISA, respectively. The anti-HBV effects of 8-Epik were also demonstrated in the model of DHBV. 8-Epik was ip given (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg, twice daily) to the DHBV-infected ducklings for 10 d. The isotonic saline liquid diet was ip given as negative control and Lamivudine (50 mg/kg, twice daily) was given as positive control. DHBV DNA was measured at days 0 (T0), 5 (T5), 10 (T10), and day 3 after cessation of treatment (P3) by dot blotting. Results 8-Epik effectively blocked HBsAg secretion in HepG2 2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner [IC 50 = (19.4 ± 1.04) μg/mL]. 8-Epik (40 or 80 mg/kg, ip, twice daily) also reduced viremia in DHBV-infected ducks. Conclusion Therefore, 8-Epik is warranted as a potential therapeutic agent for HBV infection.

中药复方M3对雏鸭体内感染Ⅰ型鸭肝炎病毒的防治效果研究

本试验旨在研究中药复方M3对感染Ⅰ型鸭肝炎病毒(DHAV-1)雏鸭的体内治疗效果。选取60只雏鸭,随机分为6组,每组10只。试验组分别为空白组(Blank)、病毒组(Virus)、清瘟解毒口服液组(QW)、中药复方高剂量组(M3_(H))、中剂量组(M3_(M))和低剂量组(M3_(L))。给药组在2日龄开始饮水给药,连续给药至实验结束,共11 d。除空白组外,在给药第4 d时进行攻毒,0.5 mL/只。比较各试验组雏鸭的病死率;对病死鸭和各组存活鸭进行解剖,观察肝脏和小肠的病理剖检及HE染色切片;分析雏鸭血液中DHAV-1 VP1基因拷贝数;检测分析血清过氧化指标(GSH-Px、MDA、SOD、CAT、iNOS)及生化指标(ALT、AST、TP、ALB、TBIL、DBIL、CHE、LDH、GGT),评价中药复方对感染鸭肝炎雏鸭的治疗效果。结果显示,中药复方M3中、高剂量组能够有效降低雏鸭死亡率;与病毒组相比,经过中药复方M3治疗后,能够显著降低雏鸭血液中DHAV-1 VP1基因拷贝数(P<0.05),感染雏鸭的肝损伤和氧化应激反应均减轻,且显著降低了感染雏鸭的ALT、LDH的含量(P<0.05)。以上结果表明,中药复方M3中、高剂量对鸭肝炎具有一定的防治效果,且中药复方M3中剂量更具有继续开发研究的可能。