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Measles virus replication in lungs of hispid cotton rats after intranasal inoculation
P R Wyde1, M W Ambrose, T G Voss
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030.
Abstract:
Hispid cotton rats were inoculated intranasally with either measles virus (MV) Edmonston, a multipassaged, tissue culture-adapted strain of MV, or with one of three clinical MV isolates that had limited passages (three to five times) in tissue culture cells. MV Edmonston was recovered from the lungs of every (n = 37) hispid cotton rat inoculated with this virus for at least 7 days after virus inoculation. Peak pulmonary titers occurred on Day +4 (3.3-4.4 log10/g lung). Scattered areas of inflammation were observed interstitially in lung sections from infected animals stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and a similar pattern of diffuse fluorescence was seen in cryostat sections stained with an indirect fluorescent antibody procedure specific for virus antigens. Fluorescent antibody and virus isolation studies on lung lavage cells both suggested that lung leukocytes were a primary target of the virus. In contrast to these findings, virus was isolated only sporadically from hispid cotton rats inoculated with any of the clinical measles virus isolates. Despite the restricted growth of MV in these animals, cotton rats may be useful for studying certain aspects of measles virus pathogenesis and for screening potential antiviral compounds in vivo.
Insights
Measles virus (MV) Edmonston efficiently infected cotton rats, replicating in lungs and targeting leukocytes. Clinical MV isolates showed limited replication, suggesting cotton rats are valuable for measles virus research and antiviral testing.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Animal Models
Background:
- Measles virus (MV) causes significant global health issues.
- Understanding MV pathogenesis requires suitable animal models.
- Cotton rats are being explored as a model for respiratory virus infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the susceptibility of hispid cotton rats to measles virus infection.
- To compare the replication of a lab-adapted MV strain with clinical MV isolates in cotton rats.
- To investigate the potential of cotton rats for studying MV pathogenesis and antiviral drug screening.
Main Methods:
- Intranasal inoculation of hispid cotton rats with MV Edmonston or clinical MV isolates.
- Virus recovery and titration from lung tissue.
- Histopathological analysis (hematoxylin and eosin staining) of lung sections.
- Immunofluorescence staining for viral antigens.
- Analysis of lung lavage cells for virus and immune cell targeting.
Main Results:
- MV Edmonston efficiently replicated in cotton rat lungs, with high viral titers observed up to 7 days post-inoculation.
- Inflammation and viral antigen presence were noted in lung tissues, with leukocytes identified as a primary target.
- Clinical MV isolates demonstrated limited and sporadic replication in cotton rats.
- Cotton rats showed potential as a model for studying MV infection dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Hispid cotton rats are highly susceptible to the Edmonston strain of measles virus, supporting its use in pulmonary infection models.
- Lung leukocytes are a significant target for MV Edmonston infection in this model.
- The limited replication of clinical MV isolates suggests strain-dependent pathogenesis in cotton rats.
- Cotton rats offer a promising in vivo system for measles virus pathogenesis research and antiviral compound evaluation.