Aleutian Disease Virus in B and T Lymphocytes from Blood and Spleen and in Bone Marrow Cells from Naturally Infected Mink

Abstract

In the nuclei of 4% of peripheral blood or spleen mononuclear cells (MNC), Aleutian disease virus (ADV)-specific antigens were found by a direct immunofluorescence test. The MNC were further fractionated by nylon wool, affinity chromatography using Staphylococcus aureus protein, or Percoll gradient techniques. ADV and specific antigens were detected in MNC fractions enriched in either the B or T lymphocytes. In the bone marrow, up to 40% antigen-positive cells were demonstrated over a period of 15 months. These findings were confirmed by the detection of infectious virus in the MNC of blood and spleen and in bone marrow cells. Adherent cells from mink and control cells from ADV-negative ferrets were negative in both tests. These findings indicate that ADV exhibits a lymphotropism and can persist in the B- and T-cell fractions from ADV-infected mink over a long period of time. Furthermore, co-cultivation of mink MNC and bone marrow cells with the CCC clone 81 cells was shown to be a reproducible method for the detection of ADV in persistently infected mink.

Detection of Aleutian Disease Virus DNA in Tissues of Naturally Infected Mink

“…Of particular interest is the so far undescribed existence of replicative ADV DNA forms in bone marrow cells. These findings supplement the detection of ADV-specific antigen and infectious virus in bone marrow cells of naturally infected mink (Roth et al, 1984). It is tempting to speculate that this site is of importance for the persistent course of the disease, e.g.…”

Lymphotropic Strain SL3 of Aleutian Disease Virus: Identification of Replicative Form DNA, Molecular Cloning and Expression of Capsid-specific Proteins

“…ADV-SL3 exhibits a strong lymphotropism in vivo and in vitro. ADV-specific antigen has been detected in mononuclear cells isolated from naturally infected mink (Roth et al, 1984) and virus replication can be demonstrated in vitro by infecting enriched T and B lymphocytes derived from ADV-negative mink .…”

“…In this paper we report on the RF DNA of the ADV isolate SL3 (van Dawen et al, 1983), which shows a marked lymphotropism in vivo and in vitro (Roth et al, 1984;Kaaden et al, 1986). The virus genome was physically mapped and the monomer RF DNA characterized with emphasis on its terminal structures.…”

Viral Infections in Domestic Animals as Models for Studies of Viral Immunology and Pathogenesis

“…Initially, it was suggested that ADV persisted and replicated in the M~b (Porter et al, 1969); however, this has not been substantiated (Roth et al, 1984) and therefore the virus-producing target cell(s) remains unknown. Recent findings suggest a new and rather different role of the M~b in the pathogenesis of AD.…”