Sensitivity of infl uenza virus strains isolated from various regions of Kazakhstan in 2018–2019 to antiviral drugs

The purpose of the study was to examine susceptibility of the Kazakhstan strains of infl uenza A/H1N1 and type B viruses, isolated from various regions of Kazakhstan in 2018–2019, to antiviral drugs. 
Materials and methods. The susceptibility analysis of 20 strains of infl uenza A/H1N1 and B viruses was carried out with chemotherapeutic agents including Remantadine, Tamifl u, Arbidol, and Ingavirin. Viruses were cultured in the allantoic cavity of developing 10-day-old chicken embryos for 48 hours at 36 °C. The hemagglutinating activity was determined according to the conventional method on 96-well plates using 0.75% chicken red blood cell suspension; the infectivity was calculated by the Reed-Muench method. The sensitivity of virus strains to diff erent concentrations of antiviral drugs was evaluated by the level of reproductive suppression of 100 lg EID50/0.2 ml of virus in chicken embryos. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Microsoft Offi ce Excel 2010 software. 
Results. A study of sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents demonstrated heterogeneity of Kazakhstan 2018–2019 infl uenza A and B viruses population on this feature. The sensitivity to Tamifl u was found in all Kazakhstan strains of infl uenza A/H1N1 virus and three type B strains (inhibitory concentration was 0.44–25.38 μg/mL). The reproduction of most viruses was eff ectively inhibited by tamifl u at a concentration of 0.68–3.23 μg/mL. The inhibitory concentration for the three strains of A/H1N1 virus was 7.23–25.38 μg/mL. Remantadin inhibited the reproduction of viruses at higher doses (12.60–25.55 μg/mL). All viruses under study were resistant to Arbidol and Ingavirin. One type B infl uenza virus was found to be weakly sensitive to Ingavirin. 
Conclusion. The heterogeneity of the infl uenza virus population in their sensitivity to antiviral drugs indicates the need for constant epidemiological surveillance in order to identify drug-resistant variants. 

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