Antiviral activities of phosphonoformate sodium to pseudorabies herpesvirus infection in vitro.

Context: Phosphonoformate sodium (PFS) has been used as an anti-herpesvirus drug; nevertheless, studies of the use of PFS for treatment of pseudorabies herpesvirus (PrV) infection in the veterinary setting have not been widely reported.

Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the inhibitory effect of PFS on cell infection and apoptosis induced by PrV.

Materials And Methods: The infectivity of PrV was determined by plaque assays when PFS was applied to the virus, to the virus-infected cells, and to the cells prior to infection. PCR amplifying DNA polymerase, gE, gG, and gD genes of PrV was performed. PrV-induced cell apoptosis was analyzed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.

Results: PFS inhibits cell infection by PrV. Addition of the drug decreased the number of apoptotic cells. Amplification of DNA polymerase and other viral structural genes detected in this study by PCR was reduced, because there were fewer viral DNA copies being made in the presence of the drug. The drug has an inhibitory effect on cell apoptosis induced by PrV.

Discussion And Conclusion: PFS has inhibitory effects on cell infection by PrV, which may be used as an anti-PrV agent or combined with other anti-PrV agents. PrV-induced cell apoptotic cells and viral DNA copies decreased in the presence of the PFS.