Lymphotropism and host responses during acute wild-type canine distemper virus infections in a highly susceptible natural host

• Published in: Journal of general virology Vol. 90; no. 9; pp. 2157 - 2165
• Main Authors: Nielsen, Line, Søgaard, Mette, Jensen, Trine Hammer, Andersen, Mads Klindt, Aasted, Bent, Blixenkrone-Møller, Merete
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01.09.2009; Society for General Microbiology
• Subjects: Acute Disease; animal models; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; biosynthesis; Canine distemper; Canine distemper virus; Cells, Cultured; Cytokines; Cytokines - immunology; Disease Models, Animal; Distemper - immunology; Distemper - virology; Distemper Virus, Canine - immunology; Distemper Virus, Canine - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Host-Pathogen Interactions; host-pathogen relationships; Infection; Inflammation; leukocytes; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - immunology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - virology; Lymphopenia; Lymphopenia - immunology; Lymphopenia - veterinary; Lymphopenia - virology; lymphotropism; Measles virus; Microbiology; mink; Mink - immunology; Mink - virology; Miscellaneous; mononuclear leukocytes; Morbillivirus; Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; Rinderpest; Rinderpest virus; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); Viremia; Virology; Virulence; Virus; Infection; Paramyxovirinae; Mononegavirales; Microbiology; Acute; Morbillivirus; Veterinary; Canine distemper virus; Paramyxoviridae
• ISSN: 0022-1317; 1465-2099
• DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.010744-0

The mechanisms behind the in vivo virulence of immunosuppressive wild-type morbillivirus infections are still not fully understood. To investigate lymphotropism and host responses, we have selected the natural host model of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection in mink. This model displays multisystemic infection, similar to measles virus and rinderpest virus infections in their susceptible natural hosts. The wild-type CDVs investigated provoked marked virulence differences, inducing mild versus marked to severe acute disease. The mildly virulent wild-type virus induced transient lymphopenia, despite the development of massive infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) exceeding that determined for the highly virulent wild-type virus, indicating an inverse relationship between acute virulence and the extent of viraemia in the investigated wild-type viruses. Single-cell cytokine production in PBMCs was investigated throughout the acute infections. We observed Th1- and Th2-type cytokine responses beginning in the prodromal phase, and late inflammatory responses were shared between the wild-type infections.