Viral RNA load and histological changes in tissues following experimental infection with an arterivirus of possums (wobbly possum disease virus)

Virology
Julia GilesMagdalena Dunowska

Abstract

Tissues from Australian brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) that had been experimentally infected with wobbly possum disease (WPD) virus (WPDV) were examined to elucidate pathogenesis of WPDV infection. Mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrates were present in livers, kidneys, salivary glands and brains of WPD-affected possums. Specific staining was detected by immunohistochemistry within macrophages in the livers and kidneys, and undefined cell types in the brains. The highest viral RNA load was found in macrophage-rich tissues. The detection of viral RNA in the salivary gland, serum, kidney, bladder and urine is compatible with transmission via close physical contact during encounters such as fighting or grooming, or by contact with an environment that has been contaminated with saliva or urine. Levels of viral RNA remained high in all tissues tested throughout the study, suggesting that on-going virus replication and evasion of the immune responses may be important in the pathogenesis of disease.

Citations

Sep 19, 2021·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Pengyan WangWilliam J Liu

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
electron microscopy
PCR
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Software Mentioned

SAS

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