Effect of a uridine 5'-diphosphate glucose analogue on herpes simplex keratitis in rabbits and vaginal infection in guinea pigs.

A uridine 5'-diphosphate glucose analogue, active in vitro against herpes simplex type 1 and 2 viruses, was assayed in rabbit infected corneas with the above viruses. The infected eyes were treated by drug instillation thrice daily and evaluation of ocular lesion was performed by slit-lamp biomicroscopy. The compound [[[5'-(2'',3'',4'',6''-tetra-O-benzoyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] carbonyl]amino)sulfonyl]uridine shows a moderate antiviral activity, resulting in a reduction in the severity of clinical illness during acute infection. Vaginal infection of guinea pigs with herpes simplex type 2 virus was treated topically by instillation twice daily with the compound. The effect on clinical evolution was related to viral shedding from the genital tract, and a moderate reduction of both parameters in respect to the infected untreated controls was observed.

Effect of disodium phosphonoacetate and iododeoxyuridine on the multiplication of African swine fever virus in vitro.

Disodium phosphonoacetate (PAA) was found to inhibit the replication of African swine fever virus (ASFV). The action of this compound has been compared with the inhibitory capacity of iododeoxyuridine (IDU) upon ASFV growing in Vero cells. The study was done by the immunofluorescence technique in order to detect formations of cytoplasmic virus antigens and inclusion bodies; both were found to be inhibited by IDU and PAA. At 100 microgram/ml, IDU blocked completely the multiplication of ASFV and with PAA, a few scattered cells showed positive fluorescence. The infectivity of the virus was reduced 1--5 log depending upon drug concentrations and time of exposure to the drugs. Inhibition of ASFV replication by PAA suggests that this virus, like other herpesviruses, involves a virus-specific DNA polymerase in its replication mechanism.