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Prolonged intracerebral infection with poliovirus in asymptomatic mice
Abstract:
A heretofore unrecognized prolonged asymptomatic infection has been identified in mice intracerebrally inoculated with Lansing strain type II poliovirus. Virus was detected by infectivity assay and nucleic acid hybridization and was found in brains as long as 77 days after injection. Viral RNA replication occurred, indicating that persisting virus was not an inactive residuum of the infecting dose. Virus was sometimes found by infectivity even when viral RNA could not be demonstrated by hybridization, but detection by nucleic acid hybridization alone never occurred. Among 56 animals--including mice that died of infection, mice with prolonged infection, and survivors from which virus was not recovered--no animal had a serum neutralization titer above 1:2 in a plaque reduction assay Moreover, brain homogenates of 30 survivors without virus did not have neutralization titers above 1:4 in the plaque reduction assay. These findings were the same as in mock-infected mice.
Insights
A prolonged asymptomatic poliovirus infection was found in mice brains for up to 77 days. This persistent poliovirus replicated, indicating active infection, not just residual virus.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Poliovirus infections are typically acute and symptomatic.
- The potential for prolonged, asymptomatic poliovirus infection is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the possibility of prolonged asymptomatic poliovirus infection in a mouse model.
- To characterize the nature of persistent poliovirus in the central nervous system.
Main Methods:
- Mice were intracerebrally inoculated with Lansing strain type II poliovirus.
- Virus detection utilized infectivity assays and nucleic acid hybridization.
- Serum neutralization titers were assessed using plaque reduction assays.
Main Results:
- Prolonged asymptomatic infection with poliovirus was detected in mouse brains up to 77 days post-inoculation.
- Viral RNA replication confirmed that the persisting virus was active, not inactive.
- Infectivity assays sometimes detected virus when hybridization did not, but not vice versa.
- No significant serum neutralization titers were observed in infected or surviving mice.
Conclusions:
- A previously unrecognized prolonged asymptomatic poliovirus infection can occur in mice.
- Persistent poliovirus in the brain can replicate, indicating an active, chronic infection.
- The absence of neutralizing antibodies suggests a breakdown in the typical immune response to poliovirus in this model.
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