Antigen Distribution in Organs of Mink with Aleutian Disease Parvovirus Infection

Abstract

Summary On tissues from naturally infected non‐Aleutian mink an immunohistological study was performed using monoclonal antibodies and the immunoperoxidase method. Structural proteins of ADV were demonstrated in cryosections and in ethanol‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded material which provide antigen detection in a similar amount together with good histological structure. In lymphoid organs viral antigen was restricted to B‐cell areas, particularly lymphoid follicles. The pattern of antigen distribution was typical for follicular dendritic cells which are capable to retain immune complexes. Beside macrophages in the interior of lymphoid follicles most likely proliferating B‐lymphoblasts reveal nuclear and cytoplasmatic presence of structural proteins indicating viral replication. Cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system such as cells of lymphatic sinuses and hepatic Kupffer cells harbor viral protein in the cytoplasm, probably resulting from phagocytosis of immune complexes. Renal glomeruli were consistently negative for virus antigen whereas in interstitial infiltrates cells resembling macrophages stained positive for ADV structural proteins.

Epidemiology and Pathology of Autonomous Parvoviruses

“…The antiviral antibodies are non-neutralizing in vivo, although in vitro the antibodies do neutralize virus after cell derived phospholipids were removed from the virions with organic solvents [52]. [26,36,37,65]. Lymphocytes and monocytes/ macrophages have been shown to replicate ADV in vitro and in vivo [22,28,48].…”

Important mammalian veterinary viral immunodiseases and their control

“…In adult mink, following primary infection progeny virus is disseminated by macrophages to liver, spleen, bone marrow and other lymphoid organs [115]. Here secondary virus replication cycles take place in B or pre-B lymphocytes [116][117][118][119]. This results in an uncontrolled polyclonal B and plasma cell proliferation in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues followed by a dramatic plasma cell lysis, hypergammaglobulinaemia, and immune complex (IC) disease.…”

Immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of viral diseases: a review

“…Mink homozygous for the recessive Aleutian coat color gene (a) are particularly susceptible, but severity and outcome of the disease are also influenced by the virus strain. ADV replicates predominantly in B or pre-B lymphocytes of lymphatic tissues and in bone marrow cells (Roth et al, 1984;Kaaden et al, 1986Kaaden et al, ,1990Alexandersen et al, 1987;Haas et al, 1990;Wohlsein et al, 1990). Except in newborn mink, virus replication does not directly damage host cells.…”