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Published on: September 9, 2010
Acceleration of scrapie disease in mice by an adenovirus
Abstract:
Coinfected mice were examined for a possible interaction between the scrapie agent and an adenovirus. A low titer (10(2) TCD50) of mouse adenovirus (MAdV) caused a significant acceleration of clinical signs of scrapie in mice infected 128 days previously with scrapie. In this experiment, the coinfected mice died 19 days earlier than mice infected with scrapie alone. When a higher titer of MAdV (10(4)-10(5) PFU) was used, a more drastic acceleration of scrapie disease was seen in mice infected 85 and 110 days previously with scrapie. At 85 days, coinfection caused mice to die 37 days earlier than mice infected with scrapie alone, whereas at 110 days, coinfection caused mice to die 52 days earlier than mice infected with scrapie alone. MAdV alone caused no clinical disease in normal mice. The brains of coinfected mice and mice that had been infected with scrapie alone showed a histopathology consistent with scrapie. A possible explanation for these findings is that the replication of the scrapie agent is accelerated by adenovirus. Defective parvoviruses are known to be helped by adenoviruses. Spleens from coinfected mice but not from mice infected with MAdV alone yielded, in cultures of BALB 3T3 cells, infectious MAdV and one or two smaller agents with the dimension and shape of a parvovirus.
Insights
Mouse adenovirus (MAdV) significantly accelerated scrapie disease progression in coinfected mice. This interaction suggests MAdV may enhance scrapie agent replication, leading to earlier mortality in infected animals.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Scrapie is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by prions.
- Adenoviruses are common viruses that can cause various illnesses.
- Interactions between different viral agents can alter disease pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential interaction between mouse adenovirus (MAdV) and the scrapie agent.
- To determine if MAdV influences the progression of scrapie disease in mice.
Main Methods:
- Mice were infected with scrapie and subsequently coinfected with varying titers of MAdV.
- Clinical signs and survival times of coinfected mice were compared to control groups infected with scrapie alone.
- Histopathological examination of brain tissue was performed.
- Infectious agents were isolated from spleen cultures.
Main Results:
- Coinfection with MAdV significantly accelerated the onset and progression of scrapie symptoms.
- Mice coinfected with MAdV exhibited earlier mortality compared to scrapie-infected controls.
- The acceleration of scrapie was dose-dependent on the MAdV titer.
- Histopathology confirmed scrapie in both coinfected and scrapie-alone groups.
- Infectious MAdV and parvovirus-like agents were detected in spleens of coinfected mice.
Conclusions:
- Mouse adenovirus (MAdV) interacts with the scrapie agent, accelerating disease progression.
- Adenovirus may enhance the replication of the scrapie agent.
- This interaction highlights complex interplay between viral infections in neurodegenerative diseases.
