PATHOGENESIS OF REACTIVATED LATENT MURINE CYTOMEGALO-VIRUS INFECTION

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 95  (1) , 67-+
Abstract
At 16 wk after inoculation, murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) can no longer be detected in the tissues of mice. A 2 wk course of immunosuppression with anti-lymphocyte serum and cortisone acetate results in reactivation and dissemination of the latent virus in all animals. MCMV was first detected in the liver, usually during the 1st wk of immunosuppression. Virus replication was restricted to hepatocytes. Subsequently, a viremia occurred, with spread of infection to other organs. The highest titers of virus were reached in salivary glands in which replication occurred in serous acinar cells. In the lung, virus-specific abnormalities were difficult to detect because of superimposed bacterial and fungal infections. Interstitial pneumonitis was produced when cortisone acetate was deleted from the immunosuppressive regimen. Although the site of virus latency was not defined, this model system will be useful for study of reactivation of latent cytomegalovirus infection.