Experimental Infection of Parainfluenza Virus Type 5 in Mice, Hamsters and Monkeys

Abstract

Experimental infection of DA virus in mice, hamsters and monkeys has been studied and the pathogenesis of this virus in these animal species has been analyzed. Inapparent infections have been demonstrated in all three animal species. Infection of hamsters and monkeys with DA virus induced high levels of antibody. Such animals were resistant to further infection by the virus. In mice, low level or frequently no detectable antibody was found following infection, and these animals could be reinfected. DA virus was isolated from a number of organs from infected animals. The appearance of the virus in different organs followed a definite pattern, depending on the route of inoculation. Viremia was detected infrequently following intranasal inoculation, and viremia may have served as a means in the dissemination of the virus from the primary site of infection, i.e., lung and trachea, to the liver, kidneys and brain. Minor histopathologic changes were found in the lung tissue of infected mice, but none was found in the trachea, liver or kidney. Virus was recovered in the urine of mice following intraperitoneal inoculation and in hamsters following intranasal inoculation. DA virus persisted in kidneys of rhesus monkeys, even in the presence of humoral antibodies. Persisting virus could not be detected in the kidneys by the conventional isolation methods, but virus could be recovered by growing the kidney cells in monolayers on glass and maintaining these cultures for a period of 1 to 2 months.