Atmospheric Pollutants and Pathogenesis of Viral Respiratory Infection

Abstract

Aerosol-induced murine influenza was evaluated as a model through which effects of environmental stresses on the pathogenesis of viral respiratory infection can be studied. Infection rate and amount of pneumonia produced in mice in response to small-particle aerosol exposure to either A2/J305/57 or A/PR8/34 influenza virus are quantitative phenomena closely related to vital exposure dose. Mice are highly susceptible to aerosol-induced influenza infection, ie, one mouse infectious dose (MID50) was equivalent to approximately two to three egg infectious doses. The amount of pneumonia which developed in response to infection and its timecourse was also related to viral exposure dose. Between the dose range of 1 to 100 MID50 the amount of lung consolidation ranged between 25% to 60% The results from exposure to the A2 and PR8 influenza viral subtypes were similar.