In vitro replication of bovine herpesvirus types 1 and 5

The aim of this work was to study the in vitro replication of bovine herpesvirus types 1 and 5 (BoHV-1 and 5) at the beginning and end of the logarithmic growth phase of Madin-Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK) cells. The replication kinetics and size of lysis and infection plaques of the field isolates 09/210 (BoHV-1) and 97/613 (BoHV-5) and the reference strains BoHV-1.1 Los Angeles 38 (LA38), BoHV-1.1 Cooper, BoHV-5a N569 and BoHV-5b A663 were evaluated. The highest mean virus titre was recorded for N569, followed by LA38 and 97/613. For most of the viruses, the virus titre values increased from 24 h post-infection (hpi) up to 48 hpi and then, they remained unchanged up to 72 hpi. However, the virus titre for 09/210 was significantly lower and a slight, steady increase was observed from 24 to 72 hpi. Furthermore, the largest lysis and infection plaques were recorded for 97/613 and LA38, respectively. According to this work, it is evident that there is a relationship between the replication of BoHV and the multiplication stage of MDBK cells. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of the replication behaviour in cell cultures of several strains of BoHV, which is critical for the rational design of in vitro experiments and vaccine production.

► In vitro replication of isolates of bovine herpesvirus (BoHV) 1 and 5 was studied.
► The highest virus titer was recorded from 24 h post-infection (hpi) up to 48 hpi.
► The largest lysis and infection plaques were for 97/613 and LA38, respectively.
► There is a relationship between replication of BoHV and cell multiplication stage.
► The results contribute to understanding the replication behavior of BoHV strains.