Further evidence for entry of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus into bovine kidney cells.

The penetration of bovine kidney cells by infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, a member of the herpesvirus group, was investigated using the direct immunoferritin labeling technique. Electron microscopic examination of infected cells after 10 min at 37°C revealed fusion between viral envelope and cell membrane; the former reacted with the ferritin particles conjugated with antiviral antibody. However, shortly after penetration of the nucleocapsid, viral-specific antigenic sites on the plasma membrane were not detected by the immunoferritin technique. Antigenically reactive structures in a disorganized array were frequently detected extracellularly, situated above the penetration sites as indicated by the internalized nucleocapsids.