Pathology of guinea pigs experimentally infected with a novel reovirus and coronavirus isolated from SARS patients

Guinea pigs were inoculated with a reovirus (ReoV) and coronavirus (SARS-CoV) isolated from SARS patients to determine their potential role in the etiology of SARS. Animals infected with ReoV died between day 22 and day 30 postinoculation (PI) while 70% of the animals inoculated with ReoV and SARS-CoV died between day 4 to day 7 PI. The titer of neutralizing antibodies against ReoV and SARS-CoV ranged from 80 to 160 when the animals were inoculated with the two viruses, respectively, while the titer of the antibodies was just below 10 in coinfections. The animal inoculated with ReoV developed diffuse alveolar damage similar to the exudative and leakage inflammation found in SARS patients, and was characterized by diffuse hemorrhage, fibroid exudation, hyaline membrane formation, and type II pneumocytes hyperplasia in alveolar interstitia. The pulmonary epithelial necrosis, excoriation, and early fibrosis of pulmonary tissue were only observed in ReoV-SARS-CoV groups and in SARS-CoV/ReoV groups. Other typical pathological changes included hemorrhagic necrosis in lymph nodes and spleen and hydropic degeneration in the liver. On the contrary, guinea pigs infected with SARS-CoV only developed interstitial pneumonitis. Our experiment demonstrate that ReoV might be one of the primary causes of SARS, since simultaneous coinfection can duplicate the typical pathological changes similar to that of SARS patients. This guinea pig model may provide a useful animal model for SARS.     

Diffuse Alveolar Lesion in BALB/c Mice Induced with Human Reovirus BYD1 Strain and its Potential Relation with SARS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity and associated lesions of a new reovirus (ReoV) isolated from patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in China. Twenty-five four-week-old BALB/c female mice inoculated intranasally with either ReoV (strain BYD1) alone, or ReoV combined with SARS-CoV (strain BJF) displayed ejecting fur and loss of body weight compared with control animals. ReoV and SARS-CoV were isolated from most postmortem tissues. The histopathological features of ReoV infected animals consisted of diffuse alveolar damage, with scattered hemorrhage, hyaline membrane formation and interstitial pneumonia. A typical type II pneumocyte hyperplasia and fibrogranulomatous tissue formation in the alveolar septae were observed both in the animals inoculated simultaneously with these two viruses and in the animals inoculated firstly with SARS-CoV, followed by ReoV. The animals inoculated firstly with ReoV, followed with SARS-CoV displayed scattered hemorrhage in the alveolar septa. Furthermore, other lesions in above two combination groups included depletion of lymphocytes in the germinal center of lymph nodes in the lung hilus and the spleen, hemorrhagic necrosis in white pulp of spleen, hydroid degeneration, and fatty degeneration in the liver and kidney. Mice induced with SARS-CoV alone did not display clinical signs, characteristically hyaline membrane formation, hemorrhage and early pulmonary fibrosis in lung tissue. This study demonstrated that the newly isolated ReoV might be a virulent pathogen for BALB/c mice. Mice infected firstly with SARS-CoV, followed with ReoV developed a typical diffuse alveolar lesion.     

恒河猴感染SARS-CoV的病毒学、血清学检测

目的对感染SARS-CoV的8只恒河猴进行病毒学、血清学指标检测。方法SARS-CoV经鼻腔接种8只恒河猴,在感染的第1天开始到5、7、10、15、20、30和60天分别安乐处死时,不同时间取咽拭子、血液和脏器,进行病毒分离,RT-PCR检测和抗体测定。结果RT-PCR证实感染病毒检出时间为5~16d,8只猴中的5只分离到了病毒,感染15d后可检测到抗体。结论感染SARS-CoV的恒河猴不仅出现与SARS患者类似的临床和病理学改变,也在一定时期内排毒,出现特异免疫反应,这些指标均可作为药物筛选、疫苗评价等方面的重要参数。     

SARS-CoV中和抗体保护恒河猴等感染SARS-CoV研究

[目的]阐明SARS病毒感染后能否再次感染,疫苗产生的抗体中长期保护效果,被动免疫是否真正安全有效等,为防治SARS提供实验依据。[方法]实验分4组,分别为一组(SARS恒河猴恢复组):用感染SARS-CoV发病12月后的4只恒河猴,均有中和抗体产生。二组(SARS食蟹猴恢复组):用感染SARS-CoV发病12月后的3只食蟹猴,均有中和抗体产生。三组(SARS血清输入恒河猴组):3只恒河猴,病毒接种时中和抗体阴性。病毒接种两天后输入抗体阳性血清(恒河猴血清,感染获得,效价为:1:128),用量10ml/只,分别经肌肉和静脉输入,各5ml。四组(恒河猴SARS-CoV感染组):2只恒河猴,病毒接种时中和抗体阴性。SARSCo-V经鼻腔接种,在感染的第1天开始到7天安乐死时,不同时间取咽拭子、血液和脏器,进行病毒分离,RT-PCR检测和中和抗体测定。[结果]一组(SARS恒河猴恢复组):接种SARS-CoV后未见发热等异常临床表现。血清生化无ALT、LDH、CK、总蛋白和血清白蛋白异常。3只猴在接种病毒后的咽拭子中,RT-PCR分别未检出、第1天检出、第1-3天中检出病毒。第2、5、7天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时血、肺、肝、脾和淋巴结等组织中病毒分离均为阴性。2只猴肺组织病理学检查见轻度肺炎。二组(SARS食蟹猴恢复组):接种3只未见任何不良临床表现,血清生化5项正常。3只猴在接种病毒后的咽拭子标本中,RT-PCR分别未检出SARS病毒、在第1-2天检出、在第1-3天中检出病毒。第2、5、7天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时血、肺、肝、脾和淋巴结等组织中病毒分离均为阴性。3只猴肺组织病理学检查见轻度肺炎等。三组(SARS血清输入恒河猴组):3只恒河猴在病毒接种的第2-5天时有一过性的体温升高,3940℃。血清生化5项正常。3只猴在接种病毒后的咽拭子标本中,RT-PCR分别在第1-3、第1-4天和第1-2天检出SARS病毒。2只猴第7天咽拭子中病毒分离阳性。另外1只在第2、5、7天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时血、肺、肝、脾和淋巴结等组织中病毒分离均为阴性。3只猴肺组织病理学检查见轻度肺炎等。四组(SARS恒河猴SARS-CoV感染组):2只猴病毒接种后,第2-4天时有一过性的体温升高,3940℃。2只进行接种病毒后1-7天安乐死时,RT-PCR在恒河猴的咽拭子标本中连续检出SARS病毒。在第2、5天咽拭子中、7天安乐死时肺组织中病毒分离阳性。2只猴肺等组织病理学检查发现肺组织表面局部有轻度发灰实变现象,可见到间质性肺炎病变,内皮细胞受损,出血和水肿。大多数肺泡没有完整的内衬细胞残留,肺泡间隔变宽并被以吞噬细胞为主的单核炎症细胞浸润,同SARS肺炎改变。实验表明,前期感染产生中和抗体的恒河猴、食蟹猴再次感染病毒,和模型对照猴比较,动物肺组织等只出现轻微或无病理变化,RT-PCR检出时间大大缩短,病毒培养未能分离出病毒,所有这些指标,均证实中和抗体有明显的保护作用,是有效的。被动免疫从结果来看,有一定的作用,但保护作用弱。     

Pegylated interferon-alpha protects type 1 pneumocytes against SARS coronavirus infection in macaques

The primary cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly discovered coronavirus. Replication of this SARS coronavirus (SCV) occurs mainly in the lower respiratory tract, and causes diffuse alveolar damage. Lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of SARS has prevented the rational development of a therapy against this disease. Here we show extensive SCV antigen expression in type 1 pneumocytes of experimentally infected cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at 4 d postinfection (d.p.i.), indicating that this cell type is the primary target for SCV infection early in the disease, and explaining the subsequent pulmonary damage. We also show that prophylactic treatment of SCV-infected macaques with the antiviral agent pegylated interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) significantly reduces viral replication and excretion, viral antigen expression by type 1 pneumocytes and pulmonary damage, compared with untreated macaques. Postexposure treatment with pegylated IFN-alpha yielded intermediate results. We therefore suggest that pegylated IFN-alpha protects type 1 pneumocytes from SCV infection, and should be considered a candidate drug for SARS therapy.     

Experimental infection of rhesus and pig-tailed macaques with macaque rhadinoviruses

The recognition of naturally occurring rhadinoviruses in macaque monkeys has spurred interest in their use as models for human infection with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus 8). Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were inoculated intravenously with rhadinovirus isolates derived from these species (rhesus rhadinovirus [RRV] and pig-tailed rhadinovirus [PRV]). Nine rhadinovirus antibody-negative and two rhadinovirus antibody-positive monkeys were used for these experimental inoculations. Antibody-negative animals clearly became infected following virus inoculation since they developed persisting antibody responses to virus and virus was isolated from peripheral blood on repeated occasions following inoculation. Viral sequences were also detected by PCR in lymph node, oral mucosa, skin, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells following inoculation. Experimentally infected animals developed peripheral lymphadenopathy which resolved by 12 weeks following inoculation, and these animals have subsequently remained free of disease. No increased pathogenicity was apparent from cross-species infection, i.e., inoculation of rhesus macaques with PRV or of pig-tailed macaques with RRV, whether the animals were antibody positive or negative at the time of virus inoculation. Coinoculation of additional rhesus monkeys with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) isolate SIVmac251 and macaque-derived rhadinovirus resulted in an attenuated antibody response to both agents and shorter mean survival compared to SIVmac251-inoculated controls (155.5 days versus 560.1 days; P < 0.019). Coinfected and immunodeficient macaques died of a variety of opportunistic infections characteristic of simian AIDS. PCR analysis of sorted peripheral blood mononuclear cells indicated a preferential tropism of RRV for CD20(+) B lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate persistent infection of macaque monkeys with RRV and PRV following experimental inoculation, but no specific disease was readily apparent from these infections even in the context of concurrent SIV infection.     

SARS-CoV动物模型研究之中国现状

目的综合对比SARS-CoV感染的恒河猴、布氏田鼠及Lewis大鼠的病理学、免疫学以及病毒的复制与外排情况的变化,来探讨此三种动物在建立SARS模型上的特点。方法SARS病毒感染8只恒河猴、9只Lewis大鼠和20只布氏田鼠,在感染后不同时间安乐死动物,应用光镜对动物的各脏器进行病理观察研究;用病毒分离和RT-PCR方法检测病毒外排与复制的情况;用ELISA法检测动物产生特异性抗体情况。结果在SARS-CoV感染恒河猴、Lewis大鼠和布氏田鼠后,肺组织均出现一定的与人类SARS疾病相似的病理改变,在动物体内均可检测到活病毒或病毒核酸,并可检测到特异性IgG抗体的存在。在病死率上布氏田鼠最高;在病毒的复制与外排方面恒河猴的检出率最高,持续时间最长;在抗体产生情况上恒河猴与Lewis大鼠基本相似;在病理变化上恒河猴病变最重且最为复杂,与人类SARS疾病的病理变化最为接近。结论布氏田鼠,Lewis大鼠,特别是恒河猴动物模型可以用于SARS发病机制、疫苗和药物的研发,恒河猴动物模型是目前研究SARS疾病最理想的动物模型。     

The aetiology of SARS: Koch's postulates fulfilled

Proof that a newly identified coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the primary cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) came from a series of studies on experimentally infected cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). SARS-CoV-infected macaques developed a disease comparable to SARS in humans; the virus was re-isolated from these animals and they developed SARS-CoV-specific antibodies. This completed the fulfilment of Koch's postulates, as modified by Rivers for viral diseases, for SARS-CoV as the aetiological agent of SARS. Besides the macaque model, a ferret and a cat model for SARS-CoV were also developed. These animal models allow comparative pathogenesis studies for SARS-CoV infections and testing of different intervention strategies. The first of these studies has shown that pegylated interferon-alpha, a drug approved for human use, limits SARS-CoV replication and lung damage in experimentally infected macaques. Finally, we argue that, given the worldwide nature of the socio-economic changes that have predisposed for the emergence of SARS and avian influenza in Southeast Asia, such changes herald the beginning of a global trend for which we are ill prepared.     

SHIV-KB9感染中国恒河猴动物模型的建立

目的为了进一步确证SHIV-KB9感染中国恒河猴的病毒浓度范围,测试动物对病毒的适应性,明确该动物模型的可重复性。方法实验前采集猴血清并进行血清学检查。选出4只无SIV、STLV、SRV/D和B病毒感染的恒河猴,分别用10倍系列稀释的病毒液静脉感染实验猴,使用流氏细胞术、血常规、病毒分离、DNA-PCR和RT-PCR等方法确定实验猴是否被感染,以及感染后恒河猴体内病毒复制和免疫细胞损伤情况。结果实验猴的血浆病毒载量、病毒分离结果、CD4＋/CD8＋比值和CD4＋T细胞数等证实,4.8×105 copies/mL以上浓度的SHIV-KB9病毒液能成功感染中国恒河猴。结论本研究进一步明确了SHIV-KB9感染中国恒河猴的有效病毒浓度范围,确定了SHIV-KB9病毒感染中国恒河猴的病毒学、免疫学的测定指标,成功的建立了SHIV-KB9/中国恒河猴动物模型。     

Induction of AIDS by simian immunodeficiency virus from an African green monkey: species-specific variation in pathogenicity correlates with the extent of in vivo replication.

Previous studies suggested that simian immunodeficiency viruses isolated from African green monkeys (SIVagm) are relatively nonpathogenic. The report describes the isolation and biologic and molecular characterization of a pathogenic SIVagm strain derived from a naturally infected African green monkey. This virus induced an AIDS-like syndrome characterized by early viremia, frequent thrombocytopenia, severe lymphoid depletion, opportunistic infections, meningoencephalitis, and death of five of eight macaques within 1 year after infection. An infectious clone derived from this isolate reproduced the immunodeficiency disease in pig-tailed (PT) macaques, providing definitive proof of the etiology of this syndrome. Although the virus was highly pathogenic in PT macaques, no disease was observed in experimentally infected rhesus macaques and African green monkeys despite reproducible infection of the last two species. Whereas infection of PT macaques was associated with a high viral load in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and tissues, low-level viremia and infrequent expression in lymph nodes of rhesus macaques and African green monkeys suggest that differences in pathogenicity are associated with the extent of in vivo replication. The availability of a pathogenic molecular clone will provide a useful model for the study of viral and host factors that influence pathogenicity.     

Aerosol exposure to Zaire ebolavirus in three nonhuman primate species: differences in disease course and clinical pathology

There is little known concerning the disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV) when inhaled, the likely route of exposure in a biological attack. Cynomolgus macaques, rhesus macaques, and African green monkeys were exposed to aerosolized ZEBOV to determine which species might be the most relevant model of the human disease. A petechial rash was noted on cynomolgus and rhesus macaques after fever onset but not on African green monkeys. Fever duration was shortest in rhesus macaques (62.7 ± 16.3 h) and longest in cynomolgus macaques (82.7 ± 22.3 h) and African green monkeys (88.4 ± 16.7 h). Virus was first detectable in the blood 3 days after challenge; the level of viremia was comparable among all three species. Hematological changes were noted in all three species, including decreases in lymphocyte and platelet counts. Increased blood coagulation times were most pronounced in African green monkeys. Clinical signs and time to death in all three species were comparable to what has been reported previously for each species after parenteral inoculation with ZEBOV. These data will be useful in selection of an animal model for efficacy studies.     

Viruses detected in cells explanted into tissue culture from naturally occurring malignant lymphoma in rhesus monkeys

During a 4-year period 43 cases of spontaneous lymphoma occurred in macaques at the California Primate Research Center. In an attempt to determine if there might be a common viral etiology to the outbreak, lymphoma tissues from 10 rhesus monkeys were explanted into tissue culture and examined for the presence of virus. Electron microscopic studies of the cultured lymphoma cells revealed viruses morphologically characteristics of adenovirus, reovirus, foamy virus, and herpesvirus. Cell-free filtrates from tissue cultures possessing the latter three viruses produced cytopathology in virus-free indicator cells. Virus particles typical of the explant culture were demonstrable in the infected indicator cells. Type-C RNA tumor virus particles were not observed electron microscopically in any of the lymphoma tissues or lymphoma cell cultures examined.     

SARS冠状病毒感染恒河猴的病毒、血清学检测研究

[目的]对感染SARS-CoV的恒河猴进行病毒、血清学等指标检测及研究,确定模型动物成功感染,并为SARS发病机制,疫苗评价,药物筛选确定参考指标。[方法]SARSCo-V经鼻腔接种8只恒河猴,在感染的第1天开始到5、7、10、15、20、30和60天分别安乐死时,不同时间取咽拭子、血液和脏器,进行病毒分离,RT-PCR检测和抗体测定。[结果]用巢式RT-PCR在感染后每天提取的咽拭子标本中检测SARS-CoV的RNA,以细胞培养冠状病毒为阳性对照,以正常恒河猴咽拭子为阴性对照,在8只动物病毒接种第5天开始可检测到大小为797bp的目的条带,阳性检出最长可持续到第15天。进一步用病毒分离实验对PCR结果进行确证,8只动物中的5只恒河猴接种5天的咽拭子标本中,经Vero细胞培养,细胞产生了典型细胞病变(CPE),提示SARS冠状病毒能感染恒河猴并有病毒的复制和排毒。IFA方法证实为SRAS-CoV抗原存在。SARS-CoV感染恒河猴后,可以检测出免疫反应。在SARS冠状病毒接种前和接种后第5、8、11、15、19、23、26、30、34、每隔4-7天以及安乐死时采血,制备血清测定抗体,8只恒河猴接种病毒前均血清中SARS冠状病毒特异性抗体IgG为阴性,10天后安乐处死的5只感染猴在11-15天开始,至安乐死时,均为阳性。IgG阳性的5只恒河猴均有一定的中和抗体产生,且对SARS病毒感染细胞有一定的保护性。感染SARS病毒猴后与正常猴比较,其细胞杀伤效应明显增强。感染SARS-CoV的恒河猴不仅出现与SARS患者类似的临床和病理学改变,也在一定时期内排毒,出现特异免疫反应,这些指标均可作为药物筛选、疫苗评价等方面的重要参数。     

人ACE2转基因小鼠对SARS-CoV的易感性

目的建立敏感的SARS小动物模型。方法通过显微注射技术,将编码SARS-CoV细胞受体的人血管紧张素转换酶(hACE2)基因导入小鼠的基因组中制备了hACE2转基因小鼠,在小鼠ACE2(mACE2)启动子的调控下,hACE2蛋白在转基因小鼠的肺脏、心脏、肾脏和小肠表达。我们观察了野生型和转基因小鼠在SARS冠状病毒接种后病原学和病理学方面的反应。结果在接种后第3天和第7天,病毒能够更有效地在转基因小鼠的肺脏复制,而且转基因小鼠出现更严重的肺损伤。肺组织的损伤包括肺间质充血、出血,单核细胞、淋巴细胞浸润及血浆蛋白的渗出,肺泡上皮细胞增生、脱落,此外,在转基因小鼠的某些器官还发现了血管炎、变性和坏死等病理变化。在转基因小鼠的肺上皮细胞、血管内皮细胞和脑神经细胞检测到病毒抗原。结论转基因小鼠比野生型小鼠对SARS病毒更易感,而且表现出更接近SARS患者的病理变化。     

Method to detect asymptomatic carriers of simian hemorrhagic fever virus

Evidence was obtained that mononuclear phagocytic cells are the target cells for simian hemorrhagic fever virus replication. Using peritoneal macrophages from rhesus monkeys in an in vitro, 18 of 20 asymptomatic chronically infected patas monkeys were detected from coded samples. The two chronically infected patas monkeys not detected by the test, nevertheless, contained virus. This was determined by inoculating macrophage cultures with plasma from macaques dying as a result of inoculation with plasma from these chronically infected animals. in addition to virus found in chronically infected animals, all isolates of simian hemorrhagic fever virus tested previously described epizootics lytically infected rhesus monkey macrophages. These data suggested that the highly fatal nature of simian hemorrhagic fever in macaques was related to the extreme sensitivity of their mononuclear phagocytic cells to infection and lysis.     

Immunization with a live, attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) prevents early disease but not infection in rhesus macaques challenged with pathogenic SIV.

An infectious, virulence-attenuated molecular clone of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), SIVMAC-1A11, was derived from an SIV isolate that causes fatal immunodeficiency in rhesus macaques. When inoculated intravenously in rhesus macaques, SIVMAC-1A11 induced transient viremia (1 to 6 weeks) without clinical disease and a persistent humoral antibody response. The antibodies were directed mainly against the viral envelope glycoproteins, as determined by immunoblots and virus neutralization. The potential of this virulence-attenuated virus to protect against intravenous challenge with a pathogenic SIVMAC strain was assessed. Five rhesus macaques were each given two intravenous inoculations with SIVMAC-1A11 7 months apart. Three of the five immunized monkeys and four naive control animals were then challenged with 100 to 1,000 100% animal infectious doses of pathogenic SIVMAC. All seven animals became persistently viremic following the challenge. Four of four unimmunized animals developed severe clinical signs of simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome by 38 to 227 days after challenge and were euthanatized 91 to 260 days postchallenge. However, no signs of illness were seen in immunized monkeys until 267 to 304 days postchallenge, when two of three immunized animals developed mild thrombocytopenia and lymphopenia; one of these animals died with clinical signs of simian immunodeficiency disease at 445 days after challenge. The two SIVMAC-1A11-immunized monkeys that were not challenged were healthy and antibody positive 22 months after the initial immunization. Thus, although live SIVMAC-1A11 was immunogenic and did not induce any disease, it failed to protect rhesus macaques against infection with a moderately high dose of pathogenic virus. However, immunization prevented severe, early disease and prolonged the lives of monkeys subsequently infected with pathogenic SIV.     

Neuropathogenesis of chimeric simian human immunodeficiency virus infection in rhesus macaques

Comparative studies were performed to determine the neuropathogenesis of infection in macaques with simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)89.6P and SHIV(KU). Both viruses utilize the CD4 receptor and CXCR4 co-receptor. However, in addition, SHIV89.6P uses the CCR5 co-receptor. Both agents are dual tropic for CD4+ T cells and blood-derived macrophages of rhesus macaques. Following inoculation into macaques, both caused rapid elimination of CD4+ T cells but they varied greatly in mechanisms of neuropathogenesis. Two animals infected with SHIV89.6P developed typical lentiviral encephalitis in which multinucleated giant cell formation, nodular accumulations of microglial cells, activated macrophages and astrocytes, and perivascular accumulations of mononuclear cells were present in the brain. Many of the macrophages in these lesions contained viral RNA. Three macaques infected with SHIV(KU) and killed on days 6, 11 and 18, respectively, developed a slowly progressive infection in the CNS but macrophages were not productively infected and there were no pathological changes in the brain. Two other animals infected with this virus and killed several months later showed minimal infection in the brain even though one of the two developed encephalitis of unknown etiology. The basic difference in the mechanisms of neuropathogenesis by the two viruses may be related to co-receptor usage. SHIV89.6P, in utilizing the CCR5 co-receptor, caused neuropathogenic effects that are similar to other neurovirulent primate lentiviruses.     

Neuropathogenesis of chimeric simian human immunodeficiency virus infection in rhesus macaques

Comparative studies were performed to determine the neuropathogenesis of infection in macaques with simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)89.6P and SHIV_KU. Both viruses utilize the CD4 receptor and CXCR4 co-receptor. However, in addition, SHIV89.6P uses the CCR5 co-receptor. Both agents are dual tropic for CD4⁺ T cells and blood-derived macrophages of rhesus macaques. Following inoculation into macaques, both caused rapid elimination of CD4⁺ T cells but they varied greatly in mechanisms of neuropathogenesis. Two animals infected with SHIV89.6P developed typical lentiviral encephalitis in which multinucleated giant cell formation, nodular accumulations of microglial cells, activated macrophages and astrocytes, and perivascular accumulations of mononuclear cells were present in the brain. Many of the macrophages in these lesions contained viral RNA. Three macaques infected with SHIV_KU and killed on days 6, 11 and 18, respectively, developed a slowly progressive infection in the CNS but macrophages were not productively infected and there were no pathological changes in the brain. Two other animals infected with this virus and killed several months later showed minimal infection in the brain even though one of the two developed encephalitis of unknown etiology. The basic difference in the mechanisms of neuropathogenesis by the two viruses may be related to co-receptor usage. SHIV89.6P, in utilizing the CCR5 co-receptor, caused neuropathogenic effects that are similar to other neurovirulent primate lentiviruses.     

Macaque model for severe acute respiratory syndrome

Rhesus and cynomolgus macaques were challenged with 10(7) PFU of a clinical isolate of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. Some of the animals developed a mild self-limited respiratory infection very different from that observed in humans with SARS. The macaque model as it currently exists will have limited utility in the study of SARS and the evaluation of therapies.     

H5N1型禽流感病毒感染非人灵长类动物的观察

目的观察H5N1型禽流感病毒对中国非人灵长类动物的易感性并建立动物模型。方法将病毒通过滴鼻接种实验猴,观察感染后动物的临床症状,采血、咽拭子及各器官组织进行血清学、病原学及病理学检查,记录抗体变化、病毒分离情况及病理学改变。结果感染后动物表现轻度食欲下降、一过性体温升高及外周血白细胞减少,肺组织病毒分离及RT-PCR阳性,病理检查感染急性期动物肺组织表现为间质性肺炎,肺泡间隔增宽,充血出血明显,肺泡受压变形,间质及肺泡内有大量炎细胞浸润,符合病毒性肺炎的改变,感染后14 d动物血清IgG抗体水平较感染前升高4倍。结论H5N1病毒可感染非人灵长类动物,可以作为感染模型进行H5N1病毒的发病机制、疫苗评价、药物筛选等研究。