MOUSEPOX IN INBRED MICE INNATELY RESISTANT OR SUSCEPTIBLE TO LETHAL INFECTION WITH ECTROMELIA VIRUS .1. CLINICAL-RESPONSES

  • 1 February 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (1) , 11-15
Abstract
Clinical responses to infection with ectromelia virus strain NIH-79 were determined in several strains of inbred mice [Mus musculus]. All mice were equally susceptible to infection, but mortality was strain dependent. BALB/c AnNCr, A/JNCr, DBA/2NCr and C3H/He/NCr MTV- mice were highly resistant. Death rates were influenced strongly by virus dose and by route of inoculation. High doses were associated with early and high mortality. For a given dose, intraperitoneal inoculation resulted in the highest mortality and death rates were progressively reduced in mice inoculated by the footpad, subcutaneous and intranasal routes. Footpad swelling was prominent in resistant mice and in survivors among susceptible strains. Deaths among AKR and SJL mice were sporadic and often occurred late irrespective of virus dose. It is suggest that this pattern could be influenced by secondary contact infections or by immunologic injury associated with host responses to ectromelia virus.