In vitro activities of bismuth salts against rotaviruses and other enteric viruses.

Bismuth salts inhibited plaque formation of all enteric viruses tested, which included four strains of rotavirus and one strain each of echovirus, reovirus, and poliovirus. The compounds had no direct virucidal effect at concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 2.5 mg/ml, and the inhibitory effects were observed only at concentrations slightly below those that caused extensive cytotoxicity. Plaque inhibition appeared to result from interference with host cell functions, with secondary inhibition of virus production.