Leukemia-like syndrome in Balb/c mice infected with the lymphotropic gamma herpesvirus MHV-Šumava: an analogy to EBV infection
Abstract:
Based on our previous observation that primary infection with the murine gamma herpesvirus (MHV) isolate Šumava (MHV-ŠU) undergoes a lymphoproliferative phase resembling to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induced infectious mononucleosis (IM), we evaluated white blood cell (WBC) counts at late stages following MHV-ŠU infection. In consequence of intranasal inoculation with MHV-ŠU a leukemia-like syndrome in Balb/c mice developed. The syndrome in question was accompanied with significant splenomegaly; in the peripheral blood leukocytosis (from 8x104 to 5x105 leukocytes/µl) and a high percentage of atypical lymphocytes (60--80%) was found. Presented results are bringing further evidence for lymphoproliferative effect of MHV and point at analogic course of MHV-ŠU and EBV infections.