Detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antigen in the lungs of guinea pigs 6 weeks after experimental infection and despite of the production of neutralizing antibodies

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Abstract
Summary Infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are characterized by frequently occuring reinfections and are regarded to be responsible for bronchial hyperreactivity. In this report we describe a small-animal model suited to study RSV-induced pathogenesis and immune response. Guinea pigs are infected by inhalation of an RSV-aerosol. Lungs of infected animals show signs of a bronchiolitis at 7 days after the initial infection. Although neutralizing serum antibodies are synthesized viral proteins are still detectable at 6 weeks post infection. Therefore, the presence of neutralizing antibodies is obviously not sufficient for rapid clearance of persistent RSV-proteins from the lungs of infected guinea pigs.