SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF MURINE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS DISEASE DOES NOT PREVENT LATENT VIRUS-INFECTION

Abstract

9-(1,3-Dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)guanine (DHPG), a nucleoside analogue, inhibits the replication of human and murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) in cell culture. We studied the effects of treatment with DHPG on acute MCMV infection in mice and assessed the impact of drug therapy on the eventual development of latent viral infection. In virus-susceptible Balb/c mice, DHPG treatment limited dissemination of virus infection and prevented death. In sublethal infection of both Balb/c and virus-resistant C3H/St mice, DHPG prevented recovery of infectious virus from visceral organs, including the spleen. Despite these effects of drug treatment on virus replication during acute infection, latent MCMV could be reactivated in vivo by immunosuppression and in vitro by spleen explantation in virtually all mice. These results indicate that successful treatment of MCMV infection and marked suppression of viral replication do not prevent establishment of viral latency.