Effects of L-lysine and L-arginine on in vitro replication of feline herpesvirus type-1

Objective-To determine the effects of varies concentrations of L-lysine and L-arginine on in vitro replication of feline herpesvirus type-1 (FHV-1). Sample Population-Cultured Crandell-Reese feline kidney (CRFK) cells and FHV-1 strain 727. Procedure-Uninfected CRFK cells or CRFK cells infected with FHV-1 were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium or in 1 of 7 test media containing various concentrations of lysine and arginine. Viral titer and CRFK growth rate were assessed in each medium. Results-Media depleted of arginine almost completely inhibited viral replication, whereas 2.5 or 5.0 mug of arginine/ml of media was associated with a significant increase in FHV-1 replication. In media with 2.5 mug of arginine/ml, supplementation with 200 or 300 mug of lysine/ml reduced viral replication by 34.2 and 53.9%, respectively. This effect was not seen in media containing 5.0 mug of arginine/ml. Growth rates of CRFK cells also were suppressed in media containing these concentrations of amino acids, but they were not significantly different from each other. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Arginine exerts a substantial growth-promoting effect on FHV-1, Supplementation of viral culture medium with lysine attenuates this growth-promoting effect in media containing low concentrations of arginine. Analysis of data from this study indicates that high concentrations of lysine reduce in vitro replication of FHV-1 but only in media containing low concentrations of arginine. Clinical trials will be necessary to determine whether supplemental administration of lysine, with or without arginine restriction, will be useful in the management of cats with FHV-1 infections.