Tissue residues, pathology and viral-induced mortality in mice chronically exposed to different cadmium salts

Male Swiss Webster mice were exposed to one of three different cadmium salts (sulfate, acetate and chloride) in the drinking water for 10 weeks and then inoculated with a 14-day LD75 or LD35 dilution of encephalomyocarditis virus. the incidence of viral-induced mortality was lower in 17 of the 18 cadmium-treated groups of mice as compared to controls. Cadmium tissue residues and histopathologic lesions were essentially similar at comparable doses in all groups of mice regardless of the form of cadmium in the diet.