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A comparison of mouse parvovirus 1 infection in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice: susceptibility, replication, shedding, and
Kenneth S Henderson1, Kathleen R Pritchett-Corning2, Cheryl L Perkins3
1Research Animal Diagnostic Services, Charles River, Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA ken.henderson@crl.com.
Abstract:
This study characterized the effects of challenge with a field isolate of mouse parvovirus 1 (MPV1e) in C57BL/6NCrl (B6) and BALB/cAnNCrl (C) mice. We found that C mice were more susceptible to MPV1e infection than were B6 mice; ID50 were 50 to 100 times higher after gavage and 10-fold higher after intraperitoneal injection in B6 as compared with C mice. To evaluate the host strain effect on the pathogenesis of MPV1e, B6 and C mice were inoculated by gavage. Feces and tissues, including mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), ileum, spleen and blood, were collected for analysis by quantitative PCR (qPCR) to assess infection and fecal shedding and by RT-qPCR to evaluate replication. Peak levels of MPV1e shedding, infection, and replication were on average 3.4, 4.3, and 6.2 times higher, respectively, in C than in B6 mice. Peaks occurred between 3 and 10 d after inoculation in C mice but between 5 and 14 d in B6 mice. Multiplexed fluorometric immunoassays detected seroconversion in 2 of 3 C mice at 7 d after inoculation and in all 3 B6 mice at 10 d. By 56 d after inoculation, viral replication was no longer detectable, and fecal shedding was very low; infection persisted in ileum, spleen, and MLN, with levels higher in C than B6 mice and highest in MLN. Therefore, the lower susceptibility of B6 mice, as compared with C mice, to MPV1e infection was associated with lower levels of infection, replication, and shedding and delayed seroconversion.
Insights
BALB/c mice are more susceptible to mouse parvovirus 1 (MPV1e) infection than C57BL/6 mice. This difference is linked to higher viral replication, shedding, and delayed immune response in BALB/c mice.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Mouse parvovirus 1 (MPV1e) is a significant pathogen in laboratory mouse colonies.
- Understanding host strain susceptibility is crucial for managing MPV1e outbreaks and research integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the differential susceptibility of C57BL/6NCrl (B6) and BALB/cAnNCrl (C) mice to MPV1e infection.
- To investigate the impact of host genetic background on MPV1e pathogenesis, including viral replication, shedding, and host immune response.
Main Methods:
- Mice (B6 and C strains) were challenged with a field isolate of MPV1e via oral gavage.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and RT-qPCR were used to measure viral load, infection, and replication in feces and tissues (mesenteric lymph nodes, ileum, spleen, blood).
- Seroconversion was assessed using multiplexed fluorometric immunoassays.
Main Results:
- BALB/c mice exhibited significantly higher susceptibility to MPV1e, with 50-100 times higher ID50 values compared to B6 mice.
- Peak viral shedding, infection, and replication levels were substantially higher in BALB/c mice than in B6 mice.
- While infection persisted in lymphoid tissues (MLN, spleen) and ileum in both strains, levels remained higher in BALB/c mice. Seroconversion was also delayed in BALB/c mice.
Conclusions:
- C57BL/6 mice demonstrate lower susceptibility to MPV1e infection compared to BALB/c mice.
- Genetic background significantly influences MPV1e pathogenesis, affecting viral load, replication kinetics, shedding patterns, and immune response timing.
- These findings have implications for MPV1e surveillance, control strategies, and experimental design in research settings.
