title: Therapeutic effect of acyclovir (ZoviraxTM) on the pathogenesis of chronic murine cytomegalovirus infection in the immunodeficient nude mouse.
abstract: The ability of acyclovir (ZoviraxTM) to influence the outcome of chronic cytomegalovirus infection in the nude mouse has been studied over a period of 3 weeks. Nude mice infected with a low dose of murine cytomegalovirus develop a chronic progressive disease which is characterized by typical lesions in the lung, the liver, salivary glands and many other organs. After 18-21 days most nude mice die of pneumonia and hepatitis. When acyclovir (ZoviraxTM) was administered s.c. twice daily, starting 1 day after the infectious dose of virus, a marked improvement was noted. No nude mice given the drug died in the 21-day period and the number of lesions to the lung, liver and salivary glands was reduced quantitatively by a highly significant amount.
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000212:Acyclovir