Pathology of immunodeficient mice with naturally occurring murine norovirus infection.
Murine norovirus (MNV) was recently discovered in Rag2-/-/Stat1-/- mice in a U.S. medical research facility. Presently, little is known concerning the epidemiology and natural history of this virus. We studied the pathology of naturally occurring MNV infection in 28 immunodeficient mice of several different genotypes (Rag1-/-/IFNgamma R-/-, OT1 Rag1-/-/IFNgamma R-/-, OT2 Rag1-/-/IFNgamma R-/-, Rag1-/-/Stat1-/-, and Rag2-/-) that were maintained in two U.S. research facilities. The mice were selected for study because sentinel mice housed in their holding rooms had been identified as positive for MNV-specific antibodies during routine screening for infectious agents. Our data indicate that in certain lines of immunodeficient mice, MNV can establish a disseminated infection that is characteristically associated with inflammation in multiple tissues, including liver (hepatitis), lung (focal interstitial pneumonia) and the peritoneal and pleural cavities. In addition, MNV can establish an asymptomatic infection in the mesenteric lymph nodes of Rag2-/- mice. Further studies are needed to determine whether MNV presents a confounding variable in immunological, toxicological and pathological studies in mice naturally infected with MNV.
Ward
Jerrold M
JM
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section, Comparative Medicine Branch, Division of Intramural Research, NIAID, NIH, Twinbrook III, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8135, USA. jeward@mail.nih.gov
Wobus
Christiane E
CE
Thackray
Larissa B
LB
Erexson
Cindy R
CR
Faucette
Larry J
LJ
Belliot
Gaël
G
Barron
Elyssa L
EL
Sosnovtsev
Stanislav V
SV
Green
Kim Y
KY
D000047:Academies and Institutes; D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017250:Caliciviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D029322:Norovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D000096743:Interferon gamma Receptor; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse