ACTION OF ANTI-THYMOCYTE SERUM ON JUNIN VIRUS-INFECTION IN RATS

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  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 27  (6) , 484-489
Abstract
Two-day-old rats resistant to intracerebral (i.c.) infection with XJ strain of Junin virus (JV), were rendered sensitive to JV by treatment with antithymocyte serum (ATS). The mortality reached 80%, the virus titers in brain were higher and the serum neutralizing antibodies dropped but brain lesions were absent throughout. The same host was susceptible to XJCl3 strain infection, which induced lethal encephalitis manifested by severe necrotic foci in the cerebellum. ATS treatment conferred significant protection against this strain; the mortality was 63%, viral titers in brain remained unchanged but the lesions were mild as compared with nontreated animals. It seems likely that the XJ strain allowed the 2-day-old rat to develop serum antibodies against JV, while the XJCl3 strain unleashed an immunopathological response.