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[Experimental measles infection in rodents]
Abstract:
The sensitivity of newborn hamsters to inoculation with the vaccine L-16 strain of measles virus and the Lec strain isolated from a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis as well as the possibility of persistence of these viruses in the animals were studied. Intracerebral inoculation of the L-15 strain was shown to produce in hamsters acute meningoencephalitis leading to death in 85%-100% of cases. Over 30 days after inoculation, the infectious virus, the virus-specific antigen and virus genome were found in the brain. In the brains of the sick animals, all the structural proteins of measles virus with the exception of hemagglutinin were expressed. After inoculation with the Lec strain, the clinical signs of the disease were less manifest, and mortality was 40%. The infectious virus could be detected in the brain up to 20 days postinoculation, the genome, up to 31 days. All the structural proteins of measles virus were expressed in the brains of the inoculated animals. No persistence of L-16 and Lec strains of measles virus could be demonstrated at langer intervals after inoculation (90-180 days) in the brains of hamsters.
Insights
Newborn hamsters are sensitive to measles virus strains L-16 and Lec. While acute meningoencephalitis and virus presence were observed, long-term measles virus persistence in hamster brains was not demonstrated.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
Context:
- Measles virus (MeV) can cause severe neurological complications.
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, fatal complication of measles infection.
- Animal models are crucial for studying MeV pathogenesis and persistence.
Purpose:
- To investigate the susceptibility of newborn hamsters to different measles virus strains.
- To determine the potential for measles virus persistence in the hamster brain.
- To analyze the expression of measles virus proteins in infected hamster brains.
Summary:
- Intracerebral inoculation of the L-16 MeV strain caused acute meningoencephalitis and death in 85-100% of newborn hamsters, with infectious virus, antigen, and genome detected in the brain for over 30 days.
- The Lec strain, isolated from an SSPE patient, induced less severe disease and 40% mortality, with infectious virus detectable up to 20 days and genome up to 31 days post-inoculation.
- All measles virus structural proteins, except hemagglutinin, were expressed in L-16 infected brains, while all were expressed in Lec-infected brains. Long-term persistence (90-180 days) of both strains was not observed.
Impact:
- This study highlights the utility of the newborn hamster model for MeV neurovirulence research.
- Findings contribute to understanding MeV neuropathogenesis and the factors influencing viral persistence.
- Provides insights into host-virus interactions during measles virus infection of the central nervous system.