Comparison of autoimmunity induction with virulent and attenuated rinderpest virus in rabbits

Two strains of rinderpest virus which differ each other in virulence to rabbits were compared in their capacity to produce autoantibodies and their effects on the function of the lymphoid system. The virulent L strain induced two autoantibodies, i.e., antinuclear antibody (ANA) and cold hemagglutinating antibody (HA), and suppressed lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin and to concanavalin A for at least 4 weeks after infection. The attenuated LA strain, on the other hand, failed to induce the autoantibodies except transient production of cold HA in few animals, although persistent production of virus-neutralizing antibody like that in L strain infection was observed. The suppression of lymphocyte responses to mitogens was limited to a period of 3--7 days after infection. Possible mechanism of the virus-induced autoimmunity was discussed in relation to the immunosuppressive effect of virus infection.