Pathogenetic characterization of a mouse herpesvirus isolate Sumava

BALB/c mice inoculated intranasally (i.n.) with the mouse herpesvirus isolate Sumava (MHV-Sumava) did not show apparent symptoms of illness. However, they showed an increase in the number of leukocytes and appearance of atypical leukocytes in peripheral blood. The infiltration of spleen with atypical cells resulted in splenomegaly. In the course of the infection the virus persisted in lungs, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, mammary glands, peritoneal macrophages and liver. We regard MHV-Sumava as one of the eight isolates of MHV-68 (a virus and species Murid herpesvirus 4, genus Rhadinovirus, subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae (van Regenmortel et al., 2000)) so far obtained. MHV-Sumava differs from MHV-68, MHV-72 and MHV-76 in some virological and pathogenetical features.