Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Cytomegalovirus Infection in Immunosuppressed Mice

Abstract

Pulmonary cytomegalovirus infection was induced in mice that were immunosuppressed with antiserum to murine lymphocytes. The pathogenesis of this animal model of human cytomegalic inclusion disease was studied virologically and by light and electron microscopy. Virologic evidence of infection was first noted 12 days after inoculation. Subsequently, the quantities of virus in the lungs increased until maximal amounts were detected from the fourth through the sixth weeks. The pulmonary parenchyma of infected mice exhibited widespread morphologic alterations 21 days after inoculation, and many animals died during the ensuing week. The prominent features of the acute lesion were the presence of infected and uninfected monocytes in vessels and the accumulation of these cells and proteinaceous fluid in the interstitium and alveoli. Later in the course of the infection, interstitial fibrogenesis was commonly observed.