Related Experiment Videos
Pathogenesis of acute and persistent murine herpesvirus infection in mice
Abstract:
Outbred laboratory mice were inoculated at the age of 5, 10 and 21 days by oral and/or intranasal routes with 2 different (a lethal and a nonlethal) doses of the murine herpesvirus isolate 68 (MHV-68). Severe exudative pneumonia with haematogenous dissemination of the virus to liver, heart muscle, and kidneys developed in the 5-day-old as well as in a part of the 10-day-old mice. Virus antigen was found by immunofluorescence (IF) in the alveolar lining of lungs, in heart muscle fibres, in spleen and thymic lymphocytes, in the tubular epithelium cells of kidneys, in the neurons of Gasserian ganglia and in the intima of large pulmonary vessels. Electron microscopy confirmed the transfer of virus particles through the capillary endothelium of the damaged alveolar septa. The surviving progeny and the mothers of animals, which had not succumbed to the lethal virus dose, were kept for 141-169 days when lungs and Gasserian ganglia were examined for virus presence. MHV-68 was recovered both by direct examination of the tissue homogenates as well as by the explantation technique. The results are suggestive for a dynamic persistence of MHV-68 rather than for static latency.
Insights
Murine herpesvirus-68 (MHV-68) infection in young mice causes severe pneumonia and spreads to organs. Surviving mice show dynamic MHV-68 persistence, not static latency.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Murine herpesvirus isolate 68 (MHV-68) is a significant pathogen in laboratory mice.
- Understanding MHV-68 pathogenesis and persistence is crucial for controlling viral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pathogenesis and persistence of MHV-68 in outbred mice inoculated at different ages and via different routes.
- To determine the viral dissemination patterns and long-term viral presence.
Main Methods:
- Mice were inoculated with MHV-68 at 5, 10, and 21 days old via oral and/or intranasal routes.
- Pathological examination, immunofluorescence (IF), and electron microscopy were used to detect viral antigen and particles.
- Virus recovery from surviving mice and their mothers was performed using tissue homogenates and explantation techniques.
Main Results:
- Infection in 5- and 10-day-old mice led to severe exudative pneumonia and hematogenous dissemination to liver, heart, and kidneys.
- Viral antigen was detected in various tissues, including lungs, heart, spleen, thymus, kidneys, and Gasserian ganglia.
- Electron microscopy confirmed virus transfer across capillary endothelium.
- MHV-68 was recovered from surviving mice and mothers up to 169 days post-infection, indicating dynamic persistence.
Conclusions:
- Early-life MHV-68 infection causes severe disease and widespread dissemination.
- The findings suggest a dynamic persistence of MHV-68 rather than a static latent infection in mice.