Susceptibility of porcine cytomegalovirus to antiviral drugs.
OBJECTIVE
Re-activation of porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) in the xenograft has been reported in pig-to-baboon models of xenotransplantation and is associated with invasive disease and consumptive coagulopathy. If xenotransplantation of porcine organs into human recipients is to proceed, donor organs will have to be free from a wide range of infectious agents including PCMV. However, it is prudent to characterize the antiviral susceptibility of this virus. We therefore investigated the effect of selected antiviral agents, currently licensed for the treatment of human herpesvirus infections, on PCMV replication.


METHODS
Antiviral susceptibility was determined using real-time PCR and indirect immunofluorescence measurements in a porcine fallopian tube cell line infected with PCMV.


RESULTS
PCMV replication was significantly inhibited by ganciclovir and cidofovir (both EC(50) < 1 mg/L) and to a lesser extent by foscarnet (EC(50) within range 25-50 mg/L) and aciclovir (EC(50) > 25 mg/L).


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that, if it proves necessary, ganciclovir and cidofovir should be considered as first-line drugs to treat PCMV infections in xenograft recipients.
Fryer
Jacqueline F L
JF
Centre for Virology, Department of Infection, Royal Free and University College Medical School of UCL, Hampstead Site, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK.
Griffiths
Paul D
PD
Emery
Vincent C
VC
Clark
Duncan A
DA
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000077404:Cidofovir; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D017245:Foscarnet / Q000494:pharmacology; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000494:pharmacology; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D017245:Foscarnet; D003596:Cytosine; D000077404:Cidofovir; D015774:Ganciclovir