Naturally-occurring Sendai virus infection of athymic nude mice

Nude (nu/nu) mice, Balb/c-derived, responded to a naturally-occurring Sendai virus infection in a different manner than conventional mice. They developed a chronic debilitating disease and a persistent viral infection of the respiratory tract with intranuclear inclusion bodies in tracheal, bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells, laryngeal and tracheal glandular epithelium and in type I and II alveolar cells. The infection was identified by serologic and tissue culture studies, the mouse antibody production test and ultrastructural examination of pulmonary lesions. Phlebitis of pulmonary veins, suppurative rhinitis and otitis media accompanied the viral infection while some mice developed a secondary bronchopneumonia.