Studies on the replication of a bovine parvovirus

Optimal replication of a bovine parvovirus type 1 was found to occur when parasynchronous bovine embryonic lung cells were infected during the S phase of the cell cycle, just prior to maximum DNA synthesis. Viral antigen was first detected in the cytoplasm by immunofluorescence at 8 h post-infection, reaching a maximum at this location by 16 h and then disappearing. In the nucleus, antigen was first detected at 12 h, concurrent with early inclusion body formation and first detection of intracellular virus production. Intranuclear antigen then increased rapidly to a maximum at 20 h, as the inclusions progressively matured, large amounts of virus were produced within the cell, with some release to the environment. From 24 h, the nuclear inclusions became increasingly shrunken and basophilic as virus migrated to the cytoplasm and was progressively released to the exterior concurrent with cell degeneration and fragmentation. The majority of virus remained cell associated, even at 28 h post-inoculation. Two morphological types of early and late stage intranuclear inclusions were produced by the virus, these appearing to be a distinct feature of bovine strains. In other aspects, the replication of bovine parvovirus appeared similar to that of other members of the genus.