Serum antibody prevents lethal murine influenza pneumonitis but not tracheitis

Abstract

The effects of serum antibody upon influenza infection were studied at 2 different sites: the trachea and lung. Tracheal desquamation, pulmonary consolidation, death and virus shedding were examined after infection of mice with a lethal A/Port Chalmers/1/73 (H3N2) influenza virus. Immune serum administered i.p. before infection prevented death and pulmonary consolidation and significantly lowered lung virus shedding as compared with controls receiving normal serum. This protection did not extend to the ciliated epithelium of the trachea because serum antibody did not prevent desquamation of the trachea or significantly decrease viral yield from the trachea. Serum antibody may be protective against severe pulmonary parenchymal disease but not for disease of the ciliated epithelium.