Feline panleukopenia virus replicates in cells in which cellular DNA synthesis is blocked.

The components of the cell cycle for a feline embryo cell line were defined. Thymidine (6mM)-supplemented medium reversibly arrested cells 1 h into the S phase of the cell cycle and was used in a double blocking procedure to synchronize cells to the early S phase. The kinetics of feline panleukopenia virus replication in synchronized cells was studied by using (i) inclusion body formation, (ii) a plaque assay for cell-associated and cell-free virus under one-step growth conditions, (iii) an enzyme immunoassay for viral protein, (iv) electron microscopy of infected cells, and (v) the detection and identification of viral replicative form DNA by restriction endonuclease analysis. Parallel studies by each of these procedures of the replication of feline panleukopenia virus in cells in which a 6 mM thymidine block was maintained indicated that parvovirus replicated with essentially similar kinetics in both unblocked, synchronized cells and in cells in which the block was maintained. Accordingly, a 6 mM thymidine-supplemented medium, although it effectively blocks cellular DNA synthesis, does not block the replication of parvovirus.