(E)-5-(2′-bromovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine inhibition of macropodid herpesvirus 1 in vitro

Abstract

Herpesviruses have caused the death of kangaroos and wallabies in European and North American zoos. Eight antiherpetic purine or pyrmidine nucleoside compounds were tested in plaque reduction neutralization tests for in vitro inhibition of macropodid herpesvirus 1, a virus that has been associated with illness in captive macropods in Australia. The virus was most susceptible to inhibition by (E)-5-(2′-bromovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine (BVDU) and 5′-iodo-2′-deoxycytidine. Because BVDU effectively inhibits macropodid herpesvirus 2 in vitro, it may be the drug of choice for experimental therapy in herpesvirus infections in captive macropodids.