Effect of heparin on infection of cells by equine arteritis virus.

ABSTRACT

The number of plaques formed by equine arteritis virus (EAV) and Aujesky's disease virus (ADV) was reduced to 14% and 5% of the untreated control (100%), respectively, by 10 U/ml of heparin, but could not be reduced below to 13 and 4%, respectively, by use of concentration up to 100 U/ml. An inhibitory effect of heparin, at concentration up to 100 U/ml, was not observed on parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV-3). Heparinase treatment of RK13 cells reduced the number of EAV-, as well as ADV-induced plaques. On the other hand, the number of PIV-3 induced plaques did not decrease after treatment of RK13 cells with heparinase.