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.

No abstract