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Persistent rat parvovirus infection in individually housed rats
R O Jacoby1, E A Johnson, F X Paturzo
1Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Archives of Virology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Rat virus (RV) infection duration varies by age at inoculation. Pups experience prolonged RV infection for up to 6 months, unlike juveniles with acute infections resolving within 7 weeks.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Health
Background:
- Rat virus (RV) is an autonomous rodent parvovirus.
- Understanding RV infection dynamics is crucial for rodent health management.
- Age-dependent susceptibility to viral infections is a common phenomenon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the duration of rat virus infection in rats inoculated at different ages.
- To investigate the viral replication patterns associated with acute and persistent RV infections.
Main Methods:
- Rats were inoculated with RV via the oronasal route at 2 days or 4 weeks of age.
- Infectious virus was detected using explant culture.
- RV DNA was analyzed by Southern blotting.
Main Results:
- Infectious RV was recovered from rats inoculated as pups up to 6 months post-inoculation.
- Rats inoculated as juveniles showed acute infections that resolved within 7 weeks.
- Southern blot analysis suggested persistent RV infection in pups involved defective replication.
Conclusions:
- Age at inoculation significantly impacts the duration and outcome of rat virus infection.
- Early-life RV infection in rats can lead to persistent, potentially non-productive viral replication.
- These findings highlight the importance of age in viral pathogenesis and persistence studies.