Ultrastructural study on experimental infection of rotavirus in a murine heterologous model

Abstract

Viral replication, histopathological and ultrastructural changes were observed for a period of nine days in the small intestine of suckling mice infected with a simian rotavirus (SA11). Samples taken from duodenum, jejunum and ileum were prepared for light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Histopathologic effect could be detected within 8 hr post-infection, when only a few altered cells were observed. Damage was extensive after 16 hr post-infection, showing swollen enterocytes and reduced and irregularly oriented microvilli at intestinal villi tips. Virus particles were detected at 16 and 48 hr post-infection, budding from the viroplasm into the rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae in ileum enterocytes. Clear evidence of viral replication, observed by electron microscopy was not described before in heterologous murine models. Regeneration of the intestinal villi began at the third day post-infection. Despite some differences observed in clinical symptoms and microscopic analysis of homologous and heterologous rotavirus infections, we concluded that mechanisms of heterologous rotavirus infection in mice follow similar patterns to those observed in the homologous models.

Lactobacilli Expressing Variable Domain of Llama Heavy‐Chain Antibody Fragments (Lactobodies) Confer Protection against Rotavirus‐Induced Diarrhea

“…We therefore chose the RRV mouse-infection model to test the activity of the lactobodies. Although it is a heterologous pathogen, the infection of mice with the simian SA11 rotavirus strain leads to pathophysiological alterations that are characteristic of rotavirus infection in humans [26][27][28].…”

Development of a Heterologous Model in Germfree Suckling Rats for Studies of Rotavirus Diarrhea

“…By contrast, Kubelka et al (17) have observed more changes in the jejunum in SA11-infected mice. Others have demonstrated similar changes in the ileum and jejunum in SA11-infected mice (18) or in group B rotavirusinfected rats (24). Heyman et al (13) have reported the appearance of vacuoles in enterocytes of the villi of the proximal small intestine associated with a release of mucus in the lumen of mice infected with a murine strain.…”

“…However, difficulties in growing murine rotavirus strains to high concentrations in tissue culture have limited their use (21). The use of heterologous rotavirus, particularly the simian SA11, strain, has led to physiopathological symptoms in mice identical to those produced by the murine strain (3,17,18,21) and may limit cross contamination among animals bred in the laboratory (6).…”

Changes in Small Intestinal Homeostasis, Morphology,and Gene Expression during Rotavirus Infection of InfantMice

“…These differences have been attributed to the specific nature of the host response and not to the virus, since vacuolization is also a characteristic feature of heterologous infections in mice (2,19,38). Mice usually do not develop any symptoms beyond 2 weeks of age, and infection of adult mice occurs without disease or histopathological lesions (7,18,43,46,61,67).…”