Abstract:
Background: Japanese encephalitis(JE) is highly prevalent in many states of India. Belladonna 200C is widely used in the prevention and
treatment of JE.The effect of Belladonna 200C in virus replication inside different tissues has not been studied. Objective: To study the effect
of Belladonna 200C in virus replication inside different tissues utilising chick embryo model. Materials and Methods: Twelve‑day‑old
fertilised eggs of Black Australorp were inoculated with JE via chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) route in different experimental sets:
infection, Belladonna 200C treated and vehicle control, keeping matched blank sets. All experimental sets were incubated for 48 hours.
After incubation, viable eggs were sacrificed humanly and different tissues were observed and collected for viral load determination by
real‑time‑polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The control group showed visible pocks over the CAM; brains were liquefied due
to haemorrhagic liquefactive necrosis and white patches were found over the liver. However, the medicine‑treated group was apparently
normal; there were no visible changes in the brain and the liver was healthy like control. Real‑time‑PCR results showed high viral load in
CAM and brain with absence of viral RNA in liver of the virus‑infected group. Pre‑treatment with Belladonna 200C significantly reduced
the overall load (P < 0.05) in CAM and brain which correlated with the morbid pathological changes of the organs. Conclusion: Although
Belladonna 200C did not completely inhibit JE viral replication in the brain, it reduced the severity of JE by diminishing the viral loads
in this tissue.
