Neuropathic Effect of Newcastle Disease Virus in Mice and Modification of Host Response by Receptor Destroying Enzyme, Viral Interference, and Xerosin

Abstract

The toxic effects of certain viruses have been modified by viral interference, prior injection of receptor destroying enzyme (RDE), heat inactivated RDE, or xerosin. Similarly, the neuropathic effect of egg-propagated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) for mice was also modified by these agents. One strain, Cal-NDV, which was neuropathic for mice only in low dilution was found to interfere in mice with the neuropathic effect of another strain, RO-NDV, which was neuropathic for mice in high dilution (10^-5). Prior intracerebral injection of influenza B virus or RDE modified host response to both concentrated and dilute NDV. However, xerosin modified only the neuropathic effect of Cal-NDV and of concentrated RO-NDV, but failed to delay paralysis or death following inoculation of dilute RO-NDV. It is suggested that further study of the neuropathic effect of NDV for mice may lead to a better understanding of the possible relationships between viral toxicity, masked virus, and incomplete virus.