title: Cidofovir does not prevent caprine herpesvirus type-1 neural latency in goats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cidofovir (CDV) is an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate that exhibits a potent antiviral activity against several DNA viruses. In previous studies, CDV has been shown to significantly reduce the clinical severity and the viral shedding in primary caprine herpesvirus type-1 (CpHV-1) infection in goats. CpHV-1 is an alpha-herpesvirus showing many biological similarities with human herpesvirus type-2 (HHV-2); therefore, studies conducted on the CpHV-1 goat model could provide useful information on the pathogenesis, therapy and prevention of HHV-2 infection in humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  CDV was administered to goats infected by vaginal route with CpHV-1. Real-time PCR was carried out on sacral ganglia from CpHV-1-infected goats to detect and quantify latent CpHV-1 DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viral DNA was variably found in all five pairs of sacral ganglia, with a more frequent involvement of the third and fourth pair. In CDV-treated goats, the amount of CpHV-1 DNA did not appear to be related either to the severity of the clinical signs or the titre of the virus shed during primary CpHV-1 infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CDV failed to prevent CpHV-1 latency. Thus, vaginal CDV administration during primary herpesvirus infection, although providing immediate clinical benefits to the host might not influence the establishment of latency and, consequently, the rate of recurrent infections.
authors: Department of Veterinary Public Health, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Camero
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Crescenzo
authors: Mariarosaria
authors: M
authors: Marinaro
authors: Elvira
authors: E
authors: Tarsitano
authors: Anna Lucia
authors: AL
authors: Bellacicco
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Armenise
authors: Canio
authors: C
authors: Buonavoglia
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Tempesta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077404:Cidofovir; D003596:Cytosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005724:Ganglia / Q000821:virology*; D006041:Goats; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region / Q000821:virology; D018140:Varicellovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000187:drug effects*; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D063065:Organophosphonates; D003596:Cytosine; D000077404:Cidofovir