The helper-independent bovine parvovirus (BPV) was studied to determine its effect on host embryonic bovine tracheal (EBTr) cells: whether the ultimate outcome of infection results in apoptotic cell death or cell death by necrosis. Infected cells were observed for changes marking apoptosis. Observations of alterations in nuclear morphology, membrane changes, apoptotic body formation, membrane phosphatidylserine inversions, caspase activation and cell DNA laddering in infected cells were not indicative of apoptosis. On the other hand, at the end of the virus replication cycle, infected cells released viral haemagglutinin and infectious virus particles, as would be expected from cell membrane failure. Moreover, the infected cells released lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), release of which is a marker of necrosis. LDH release into the cell medium correlated directly with viral m.o.i. and time post-infection. Furthermore, assessment of mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity was consistent with cell death by necrosis. Taken together, these findings indicate that cell death in BPV-infected EBTr cells is due to necrosis, as defined by infected-cell membrane failure and release of the cell contents into the extracellular environment.