Placental macrophage cells were kept in a short-term culture and infected with herpes simplex type 2 virus and echovirus type 19. These were observed under optical and electron microscopy. Immunofluorescence, virus titration and autoradiographic technique were used to determine if the virus was replicating in the system. The results showed that the placental phagocytic cells do not allow virus growth and that the virus particles are destroyed right after virus uptake, within 4 h post-infection. The increase of lipid bodies and other cellular alterations suggested the intensive action of these cells against viruses.