title: Synergistic effect on mortality in mice with murine cytomegalovirus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida albicans infections.
abstract: A synergistic effect on mortality was demonstrated in a combined infection of mice with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida albicans. Mice infected intraperitoneally with a 0 to 20% lethal dose inoculum of MCMV 3 days prior to the intravenous injection of a 0 to 20% lethal dose inoculum of either the bacteria or fungus demonstrated a striking enhancement of mortality. MCMV-infected mice given Pseudomonas or Staphylococcus exhibited a 90 to 100% mortality within 24 to 48 h, whereas 80% of viral-infected animals injected with Candida died in 5 days. Injection of the bacteria or fungus at various times during the MCMV infection resulted in enhanced mortality on days 0,1,2, and 3 of the viral infection. Greatest synergism was observed on day 3, with a progressive decline in death rates thereafter. Immunization with MCMV abrogated the synergistic effect on mortality in all three combined infections. Immunization with Pseudomonas reduced mortality in the combined MCMV-Pseudomonas infection. These results indicate that mice exhibit a markedly enhanced susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections during the course of the MCMV infection and suggest that the enhancement may be related to viral-induced alterations in host resistance.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000401:mortality*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000401:mortality*; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000401:mortality*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000276:immunology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000401:mortality*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors