Neuropathogenesis Induced by Rhesus Cytomegalovirus in Fetal Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

AF Tarantal, MS Salamat, WJ Britt… - Journal of Infectious …, 1998 - academic.oup.com
AF Tarantal, MS Salamat, WJ Britt, PA Luciw, AG Hendrickx, PA Barry
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1998academic.oup.com
Rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV) infection of rhesus macaques offers opportunities to
analyze mechanisms of CMV pathogenesis in a primate species. Four fetal rhesus monkeys
were inoculated intraperitoneally with RhCMV early in the second trimester, and
pregnancies were terminated by hysterotomy during the third trimester. Three fetuses had
evidence of severe CMV disease, including intrauterine growth restriction, ventriculomegaly,
microcephaly, lissencephaly, and extensive degenerative changes of the cerebral …
Abstract
Rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV) infection of rhesus macaques offers opportunities to analyze mechanisms of CMV pathogenesis in a primate species. Four fetal rhesus monkeys were inoculated intraperitoneally with RhCMV early in the second trimester, and pregnancies were terminated by hysterotomy during the third trimester. Three fetuses had evidence of severe CMV disease, including intrauterine growth restriction, ventriculomegaly, microcephaly, lissencephaly, and extensive degenerative changes of the cerebral parenchyma. Histopathologic examination revealed polymicrogyria, gliosis, leptomeningitis, periventricular calcifications, and inclusion-bearing cells. These results demonstrate that the developing macaque brain is susceptible to infection with RhCMV early in the second trimester and that intrauterine infection results in neuropathologic outcomes similar to those observed in humans congenitally infected with CMV.
Oxford University Press