%0 Journal Article %J Vet Microbiol %D 2009 %T The reduction of CSFV transmission to untreated pigs by the pestivirus inhibitor BPIP: a proof of concept. %A Vrancken, R %A Andy Haegeman %A Dewulf, J %A Paeshuyse, J %A Puerstinger, G %A Marylène Tignon %A Le Potier, M-F %A Neyts, J %A F. Koenen %K Animals %K Antiviral Agents %K Classical Swine Fever %K Classical swine fever virus %K Imidazoles %K Palatine Tonsil %K Pyridines %K Sus scrofa %K Viral Load %K Viremia %K Virus Replication %X

5-[(4-Bromophenyl)methyl]-2-phenyl-5H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (BPIP) is a representative molecule of a novel class of highly active in vitro inhibitors of the replication of Classical swine fever virus (CSFV). We recently demonstrated in a proof of concept study that the molecule has a marked effect on viral replication in CSFV-infected pigs. Here, the effect of antiviral treatment on virus transmission to untreated sentinel pigs was studied. Therefore, BPIP-treated pigs (n=4), intra-muscularly infected with CSFV, were placed into contact with untreated sentinel pigs (n=4). Efficient transmission of CSFV from four untreated seeder pigs to four untreated sentinels was observed. In contrast, only two out of four sentinel animals in contact with BPIP-treated seeder animals developed a short transient infection, of which one was likely the result of sentinel to sentinel transmission. A significant lower viral genome load was measured in tonsils of sentinels in contact with BPIP-treated seeder animals compared to the positive control group (p=0.015). Although no significant difference (p=0.126) in the time of onset of viraemia could be detected between the groups of contact animals, a tendency towards the reduction of virus transmission was observed. Since sentinel animals were left untreated in this exploratory trial, the study can be regarded as a worst case scenario and gives therefore an underestimation of the potential efficacy of the activity of BPIP on virus transmission.

%B Vet Microbiol %V 139 %P 365-8 %8 2009 Nov 18 %G eng %N 3-4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19592179?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.vetmic.2009.06.026