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Not AvailableDucks are the “Trojan Horses” for Asian H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) and attain carrier status without displaying overt infection. These birds help in the spread of the virus among the poultry and human population through direct or indirect contact. Preen oil is the secretion of preen gland of water birds such as ducks. In a process called preening, the water birds spread preen oil across their feather and body. Preen oil has been known to play a significant role in the accumulation of various pathogens including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) from water onto feathers. However, the studies are scarce on the role of preen oil in the survivability of HPAIV. We conducted a simulative study to analyse the effect of preen oil on the survivability of the HPAI virus (H5N1) on duck feathers. Duck feather samples along with relevant controls were spiked with the H5N1 virus at two different initial concentrations (104 EID50 and 106 EID50), stored at 37°C, 25°C and 10°C temperatures and tested at regular intervals for percent infectivity by egg culture method and qRTPCR. The infectivity and viral load were significantly higher in naturally preened duck feathers in comparison to the three preen oil deficit controls at both low and high initial concentrations of virus (104 EID50 and 106 EID50). Maximum persistence was seen at 10°C in naturally preened duck feathers spiked with 106 EID50 concentration of viruses. It was also seen that depletion of preen oil from duck feathers reduced the persistence of the virus. These results demonstrate that preen oil plays a significant role in survivability and protection of HPAIV on duck feathers. This study herein will present new avenues in understanding one of the epidemiological niches of HPAIV.ICA

Physicochemical Properties and Dissolution Studies of Dexamethasone Acetate-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes Produced by Different Methods

Inclusion complexes between dexamethasone acetate (DMA), a poorly water soluble drug, and β-cyclodextrin (βCD) were obtained to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of this drug. Phase-solubility profile indicated that the solubility of DMA was significantly increased in the presence of βCD (33-fold) and was classified as AL-type, indicating the 1:1 stoichiometric inclusion complexes. Solid complexes prepared by different methods (kneading, coevaporation, freeze drying) and physical mixture were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, infrared absorption and optical microscopy. Preparation methods influenced the physicochemical properties of the products. The dissolution profiles of solid complexes were determined and compared with those DMA alone and their physical mixture, in three different mediums: simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2), simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) and distilled water. The dissolution studies showed that in all mediums DMA presented an incomplete dissolution even in four hours. In contrast, the complexes formed presented a higher dissolution rate in simulated gastric fluid (SGF pH 1.2), which indicate that these have different ionization characteristics. According to the results, the freeze–dried and kneaded products exhibited higher dissolution rates than the drug alone, in all the mediums