Pathological and virological features of arenavirus disease in guinea pigs: Comparison of two Pichinde virus strains

Judith F. Aronson, Norbert K. Herzog, Thomas R. Jerrells

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

A guinea pig passage-adapted strain of the arenavirus Pichinde (adPIC) is highly virulent in inbred guinea pigs, whereas the related strain PIC3739 is attenuated. Both viruses were macrophage tropic and infected peritoneal, splenic, liver, and alveolar macrophages during experimental Pichinde virus infection. Infection with the virulent strain was associated with unlimited viral replication in the face of exaggerated delayed-type hypersensitivity response, manifested by the macrophage disappearance reaction. Histopathological lesions unique to adPIC-infected guinea pigs included intestinal villus blunting with mucosal infiltration by pyknotic debris- laden macrophages and apoptosis of crypt epithelial cells. Splenic red pulp necrosis was also significantly associated with adPIC infection but not PIC3739 infection. These findings may provide clues to the pathogenesis of a group of poorly understood human viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)228-235
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Pathology
Volume145
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jul 1994

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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