Antiviral Effect of Resveratrol in Piglets Infected with Virulent Pseudorabies Virus

• Published in: Viruses 2018-08, Vol.10 (9), p.457
• Main Authors: Zhao, Xinghong, Tong, Wenzhi, Song, Xu, Jia, Renyong, Li, Lixia, Zou, Yuanfeng, He, Changliang, Liang, Xiaoxia, Lv, Cheng, Jing, Bo, Lin, Juchun, Yin, Lizi, Ye, Gang, Yue, Guizhou, Wang, Yin, Yin, Zhongqiong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antiviral activity; Antiviral agents; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Cytokines - blood; Cytokines - immunology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Disease; DNA; Drug dosages; Herpesvirus 1, Suid - drug effects; Herpesvirus 1, Suid - immunology; Herpesvirus 1, Suid - pathogenicity; Hogs; Humans; Infections; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - therapy; Interleukin 12; Laboratory animals; Nervous system; piglets; Pseudorabies; Pseudorabies - blood; Pseudorabies - mortality; Pseudorabies - pathology; Pseudorabies - therapy; Resveratrol; Resveratrol - pharmacology; Resveratrol - therapeutic use; Swine; Swine Diseases - blood; Swine Diseases - mortality; Swine Diseases - pathology; Swine Diseases - therapy; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Vaccines; Veterinary medicine; Viral infections; Viral Load - drug effects; Virology; Virulence - drug effects; virulent pseudorabies virus; Virus Replication - drug effects; Viruses; α-Interferon
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v10090457

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is one of the most important pathogens of swine, resulting in devastating disease and economic losses worldwide. Nevertheless, there are currently no antiviral drugs available for PRV infection. Resveratrol (Res) was identified to exert its antiviral activity by inhibiting the PRV replication in preliminary investigations. In our previous study, we found that Res has anti-PRV activity in vitro. Here, we show that Res can effectively reduce the mortality and increase the growth performance of PRV-infected piglets. After Res treatment, the viral loads significantly ( < 0.001) decreased. Pathological symptoms, particularly inflammation in the brain caused by PRV infection, were significantly ( < 0.001) relieved by the effects of Res. In Res-treated groups, higher levels of cytokines in serum, including interferon gama, interleukin 12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon alpha were observed at 7 days post infection. These results indicated that Res possesses potent inhibitory activity against PRV-infection through inhibiting viral reproduction, alleviating PRV-induced inflammation and enhancing animal immunity, suggesting that Res is expected to be a new alternative control measure for PRV infection.