title: An experimental model for dilated cardiomyopathy after rabbit coronavirus infection.
abstract: A rabbit model for coronavirus-induced dilated cardiomyopathy is described. Acute rabbit coronavirus infection results in virus-induced myocarditis and congestive heart failure. Of the survivors of rabbit coronavirus infection, 41% had increased heart weight and heart weight-to-body weight ratios, biventricular dilation, myocyte hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, and myocarditis consistent with the development of dilated cardiomyopathy. These changes were also seen in the remaining 59% of the survivors, except that the degree of myocyte hypertrophy was reduced and only right ventricular dilation was present. In most survivors, myocarditis was usually mild (1-5 foci/transverse section), but in some cases it was severe (> 20 foci/transverse section). Interstitial and replacement fibrosis was more pronounced in the papillary muscles. These data suggest that rabbit coronavirus infection may progress to dilated cardiomyopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7400.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Baric
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003333:Coronaviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006321:Heart / Q000382:microbiology; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values