ATHEROARTERIOSCLEROSIS INDUCED BY INFECTION WITH A HERPESVIRUS

Abstract

Atheroarteriosclerosis closely resembling that in humans was induced in normocholesteremic and hypercholesteremic chickens by infection with Marek''s disease herpesvirus (MDV). Four comparably sized groups of chickens were used. Each group was initially fed a diet relatively poor in cholesterol. Groups I and II were inoculated intratracheally at 2 days of age with MDV. At 15 wk, 1 group of virus-infected chickens (Group II) and 1 group of uninfected controls (Group IV) were fed a 2% cholesterol supplement for an additional 15 wk. Groups I (infected) and III (uninfected) were continued on a cholesterol-poor diet. All groups were killed at 30 wk. Striking grossly visible atherosclerotic lesions were seen in large coronary arteries, aortas and major aortic branches of Groups I and II but not in those of Groups III and IV. Microscopically, arterial changes in infected animals were characterized by occlusive fibromuscular intimal thickening, which formed fibrous caps overlying areas of atheromatous change. This change closely resembled chronic atherosclerosis in humans. These results may be important to understand human arteriosclerosis, since there is widespread and persistent infection of human populations with as many as 5 herpesviruses.