Characterization of a Virus Isolated from Artesian Well Water from Blackfoot Disease Area

• Main Authors: Chi-Feng Tsai, 蔡啟風
• Other Authors: Hwa-Lin Wu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1994
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/90717705061709396021

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 生物化學研究所 === 82 === Blackfoot disease (BFD) is a kind of arteriosclerotic obliteration which attack mostly the peripheral vascular system among inhabitants of some villages at the southwestern coast area of Taiwan. Epidemiological studiesrevealed a correlation between the BFD and the ingestion of localartesian well-water. Previous studies also revealed that arsenic was one possible incidence factor of the BFD. Since the vascular system could be the primary target tissues, we used the endothelial cells as a biological indicator to investigate the possible agents existed in the artesian well-water. Cytotoxic substances were purified from artesian well-water of Pu-Dai area. Bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BECs) were used as an indicator of cell cytotoxicity. Viruses were harvested and purified from media of the BECs infected with cytotoxic fraction isolated from artesian well-water. DNA sequencing and southern hybridization were used to identify the viruses. When the purified virus was transferred to cultured BECs, cytopathic effects (CPEs) could be observed. The morphological study of the virus by electron microscopy indicated that the diameter of the virus particle is 120-150 nm. The size of virus DNA was larger then 23 kb from agarose electrophoresis. The results of DNA sequencing revealed three homologous sequences as BHV-4 (bovine herpesvirus type 4). In vitro study revealed that both arsenic trioxide (As-lll) and arsenic acid (As-V) decreased CPEs of infected BECs. Heparin also inhibited CPEs formation of infected BECs. Further study of the virus could lead to clearify the relationship of the virus and BHV-4 of known strain. The relationship of BFD and virus infection is not clear and further studies are required.