Duodenal Lesions Associated with Adenovirus Infection in Athymic "Nude" Mice

Abstract

Type 1 mouse adenovirus has been associated generally with nonlethal infections in adult mice. In contrast, athymic (nude) adult mice developed a lethal wasting disease following inoculation with type 1 mouse adenovirus (Strain FL). A characteristic duodenal hemorrhage occurred in the diseased mice immediately before death. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in mucosal cells of the villi and crypts of the duodenum. Intranuclear adenovirus particles were observed in endothelial cells of the villi indicating that adenovirus replication was associated with the characteristic duodenal lesion. These observations indicate that type 1 mouse adenovirus should be considered as a candidate virus in the wasting disease syndrome of athymic (nude) mice.