Immunology and Pathology of Arenavirus Infections
Abstract
Pichinde Virus (PV) is a new world arenavirus which is the basis of a guinea pig model for human Lassa Fever. We have investigated macrophage and T lymphocyte functions to gain insight into immunity and pathogenesis in this model. Macrophages explanted from a variety of organ sources from PV infection strain 13 guinea pigs harbored infectious virus. The proportion of infected macrophages increased from 0.1% at day 6 post-inoculation to 10% by day 11. There was a significant decline in numbers of recoverable peritoneal macrophages during the course of PV infection; however, there was no overt cytopathic effect for macrophages infected in vitro over 1 96 hour period. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like bioactivity was measurable in the serum of moribund animals on post- inoculation day 11, whereas TNF appeared and peaked earlier (day 6) in spleen, decreasing by day 11. Neither peritoneal macrophages explanted from infected animals nor macrophages infected in vitro constitutively produced TNF.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA236990
Entities
People
- Norbert Herzog
Organizations
- University of Texas Medical Branch