An Experimental Model for Myocarditis and Congestive Heart Failure after Rabbit Coronavirus Infection

• Published in: The Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 165; no. 1; pp. 134 - 140
• Main Authors: Edwards, Suzanne, Small, J. David, Geratz, Joachim Dieter, Alexander, Lorraine K., Baric, Ralph S.
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.01.1992; University of Chicago Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body Weight; Cardiomyopathies; Congestive heart failure; Coronaviridae Infections - complications; Coronaviridae Infections - pathology; coronavirus; Death; Disease Models, Animal; Heart; Heart diseases; Heart Failure - etiology; Heart Failure - pathology; Heart Ventricles - pathology; Infections; Infectious diseases; Liver - pathology; Lung - pathology; Major; Major Articles; Male; Medical sciences; Myocarditis; Myocarditis - etiology; Myocarditis - pathology; Myocardium; Myocardium - pathology; Necrosis; Organ Size; Rabbits; Viral diseases; Viruses; Heart failure; Animal model; Rabbit; Cardiovascular disease; Lagomorpha; Infection; Virus; Myocarditis; Pathology; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Coronavirus; Animal; Viral disease; Myocardium; Coronaviridae
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/165.1.134

In a model for virus-induced myocarditis and congestive heart failure, rabbit coronavirus infection was divided into acute (days 2–5) and subacute (days 6–12) phases on the basis of day of death and pathologic findings. During the acute phase, the principal histologic lesions were degeneration and necrosis of myocytes, myocytolysis, interstitial edema, and hemorrhage. The severity of these changes increased in the subacute phase. Pleural effusion and congestion of the lungs and liver were also present at this time. Myocarditis was detected by day 9 and peaked by day 12. Heart weights and heart weight-to-body weight ratios were increased, and dilation of the right ventricular cavity became prominent early in infection and persisted. In contrast, dilation of the left ventricle occurred late in the subacute stage. Virus was isolated from infected hearts between days 2 and 12. These data suggest that rabbit coronavirus infection progresses to myocarditis and congestive heart failure.