Effect of ribavirin and glucocorticoid treatment in a mouse model of human metapneumovirus infection.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV)-infected BALB/c mice were treated with ribavirin (40 mg/kg of body weight twice a day intraperitoneally), corticosterone (0.2 mg/ml in water), or both modalities. Ribavirin significantly decreased both hMPV replication in lungs (by 5 log10) and global pulmonary inflammation on day 5 postinfection, whereas glucocorticoids reduced only alveolar and interstitial inflammation, compared to controls.