Prevalence of hantavirus infection in laboratory rats by indicator nude rats.

最近，我们报道了汉坦病毒在T细胞缺陷Rowett裸大鼠笼中的有效传播，这些大鼠对汉坦病毒感染高度敏感。利用该实验系统进一步分析了汉坦病毒感染实验大鼠的机制。感染野生型大鼠经实验性腹腔注射病毒后，长时间排出感染性病毒。在实验动物自然繁殖条件下，通过气流和被感染的大鼠弄脏的木尖向指示裸鼠传播病毒。因此，受感染的大鼠释放出大量的传染性病毒，使它们成为感染流行的起源。然而，感染非常局限于免疫缺陷动物，而不是野生型动物。

Recently we have reported a competent transmission of hantavirus to cagemates of T cell deficient Rowett nude rats which were shown to be highly susceptible to the hantavirus infection. Using this experimental system we have further analyzed the mechanism of hantavirus infection in laboratory rats. Infected wild type rats discharged infectious viruses for a long time soon after experimental intraperitoneal injection of virus. Viral transmission to indicator nude rats found to be occurred both via air-flow and by wood-tips soiled by the infected rats in natural breeding condition of laboratory animals. Thus, the infected rats discharge a large amount of infectious viruses which render them to be the origin of the prevalence of infection. However, the infection is very limited to the immunodeficient animals not to the wild type animals.