In a duck model of hepatitis B, giving the antiviral drug lamivudine together with the peptide thymosin‑alpha‑1 lowered the amount of virus in the blood more than lamivudine alone, but it also increased signs of liver inflammation.

To explore the inhibitory effect of combination of lamivudine with thymosin alpha1 (Talpha1) on the replication of duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV). Peking ducks of 1 d old were challenged with DHBV-positive serum and used as a duck hepatitis B model. After treated with lamivudine for three months, the ducks were randomly grouped and treated with or without Talpha1 for 8 d. Serum DHBV titrate was observed by semi-quantitative PCR, and inflammation and degeneration of hepatocytes were observed by pathology examination. The serum DHBV titrate was significantly reduced (4483.2+/-5193.4 compared with 9351.8+/-5059.6) after lamivudine treatment, and it was reduced more significantly(1692.2+/-589.2) after combination treatment with Talpha1. Lamivudine reduced the degeneration degree of hepatocytes (3.2+/-0.8 compared with 4.6+/-0.5) and the inflammation degree of liver (6.2+/-3.3 compared with 8.6+/-2.8). The combination treatment with Talpha1 increased liver inflammation degree (9.0+/-5.2). Both Talpha1 and lamivudine may reduce the replication of DHBV in Peking ducks and combination treatment may have the better anti-virus effect and enhance immune response in liver.