Serologic Cross-reactivity of Murine Parvovirus Capsid Antigens.

Genomic sequence analysis of autonomous parvoviruses within the genus generates 2 groups that are principally of mouse origin: the minute virus of mice (MVM) strains (MVMp, MVMi, MVMc, MVMm) and the mouse parvovirus (MPV)-like strains (MPV-1, MPV-2, MPV-3, MPV-4, MPV-5, HaPV, LuIII). Baculovirus-expressed recombinant capsid protein (rVP2) from each of these 11 parvovirus strains were produced, purified, and demonstrated to form virus-like particles. Each rVP2 preparation was then used as antigen in a multiplex fluorescent immunoassay and to immunize 5 different strains of mice.

A field strain of minute virus of mice (MVMm) exhibits age- and strain-specific pathogenesis.

The influence of mouse strain, immune competence and age on the pathogenesis of a field strain of minute virus of mice (MVMm) was examined in BALB/c, C3H, C57BL/6 and SCID mice experimentally infected as neonates, weanlings and adults. Sera, bodily excretions and tissues were harvested at 7, 14, 28 and 56 days after inoculation and evaluated by serology, quantitative PCR and histopathology. Seroconversion to recombinant viral capsid protein 2 was consistently observed in all immunocompetent strains of mice, regardless of the age at which they were inoculated, while seroconversion to the viral nonstructural protein 1 was only consistently detected in neonate inoculates.

Elimination of Pasteurella pneumotropica from a mouse barrier facility by using a modified enrofloxacin treatment regimen.

Multiple NOD. Cg-Prkdc(scid)Il2rg(tm1Wjl)Tg(HLA-A2.1)Enge/Sz (NSG/A2) transgenic mice maintained in a mouse barrier facility were submitted for necropsy to determine the cause of facial alopecia, tachypnea, dyspnea, and sudden death.

Experimental infection of mice with hamster parvovirus: evidence for interspecies transmission of mouse parvovirus 3.

Hamster parvovirus (HaPV) was isolated 2 decades ago from hamsters with clinical signs similar to those induced in hamsters experimentally infected with other rodent parvoviruses. Genetically, HaPV is most closely related to mouse parvovirus (MPV), which induces subclinical infection in mice. A novel MPV strain, MPV3, was detected recently in naturally infected mice, and genomic sequence analysis indicates that MPV3 is almost identical to HaPV.

Embryo transfer rederivation of C.B-17/Icr-Prkdc(scid) mice experimentally infected with mouse parvovirus 1.

We determined whether embryos derived from C.B-17/Icr-Prkdc(scid) (SCID) mice infected with mouse parvovirus (MPV) 1b and mated to MPV-naive B6C3F1 mice would transmit virus to naive recipient female mice and rederived progeny. Viral DNA was detected by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in lymphoid tissues, gonad, sperm, and feces of all MPV1b-inoculated SCID mice.

Transmission probabilities of mouse parvovirus 1 to sentinel mice chronically exposed to serial dilutions of contaminated bedding.

Intermittent serodetection of mouse parvovirus (MPV) infections in animal facilities occurs frequently when soiled bedding sentinel mouse monitoring systems are used. We evaluated induction of seroconversion in naïve single-caged weanling ICR mice (n = 10 per group) maintained on 5-fold serially diluted contaminated bedding obtained from SCID mice persistently shedding MPV1e. Soiled bedding from the infected SCID mice was collected, diluted, and redistributed weekly to cages housing ICR mice to represent chronic exposure to MPV at varying prevalence in a research colony.

Temporal transmission studies of mouse parvovirus 1 in BALB/c and C.B-17/Icr-Prkdc(scid) mice.

Fecal shedding and transmission of mouse parvovirus 1 (MPV) to naive sentinels, breeding mates, and progeny were assessed. Neonatal SCID and BALB/c mice inoculated with MPV were evaluated over 24 wk; several mice from each strain were mated once during this period. Fecal MPV loads for each cage were determined weekly by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, and all mice were evaluated by quantitative PCR analysis of lymphoid tissues and seroconversion to MPV antigens in immunocompetent mice.

Identification of novel murine parvovirus strains by epidemiological analysis of naturally infected mice.

Random-source DNA samples obtained from naturally infected laboratory mice (n=381) were evaluated by PCR and RFLP analysis to determine the prevalence of murine parvovirus strains circulating in contemporary laboratory mouse colonies. Mouse parvovirus (MPV) was detected in 77% of samples, Minute virus of mice (MVM) was detected in 16% of samples and both MVM and MPV were detected in 7% of samples. MVMm, a strain recently isolated from clinically ill NOD-mu chain knockout mice, was detected in 91% of MVM-positive samples, with the Cutter strain of MVM (MVMc) detected in the remaining samples.

Detection of Mycoplasma pulmonis by fluorogenic nuclease polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Mycoplasma pulmonis induces persistent infections in laboratory mice and rats and can contaminate biological materials. We developed a fluorogenic nuclease polymerase chain reaction (fnPCR) assay to detect M. pulmonis specifically.

Detection of lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus by use of a fluorogenic nuclease reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay.

Lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDEV) induces persistent infections in laboratory mice, alters in vivo physiology, and is a common contaminant of biological materials such as transplantable tumor cell lines. The fluorogenic nuclease reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (fnRT-PCR) assay combines RT-PCR analysis with an internal fluorogenic hybridization probe, thereby eliminating post-PCR processing and potentially enhancing specificity. An fnRT-PCR assay specific for LDEV was therefore developed by targeting primer and probe sequences to a unique region of the LDEV nucleocapsid (VP1) gene.

Detection of sendai virus and pneumonia virus of mice by use of fluorogenic nuclease reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Sendai virus may induce acute respiratory tract disease in laboratory mice and is a common contaminant of biological materials. Pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) also infects the respiratory tract and, like Sendai virus, may induce a persistent wasting disease syndrome in immunodeficient mice. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays have proven useful for detection of Sendai virus and PVM immunodeficient animals and contaminated biomaterials.

Detection of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus by use of fluorogenic nuclease reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) induces persistent infections in laboratory mice; is a known contaminant of biological materials, such as transplantable tumor cell lines; and is of great concern in animal facilities due to its zoonotic potential. Fluorogenic nuclease reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (fnRT-PCR) assays combine RT-PCR with an internal fluorogenic hybridization probe, thereby potentially enhancing specificity and eliminating post-PCR processing. An fnRT-PCR assay specific for LCMV was, therefore, developed by targeting primer and probe sequences to a unique region of the LCMV nucleocapsid (NP) gene.

Detection of rodent coronaviruses by use of fluorogenic reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays have proved useful for the detection of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and rat coronavirus (RCV) in acutely infected animals and contaminated biomaterials. Fluorogenic nuclease RT-PCR assays combine RT-PCR with an internal fluorogenic hybridization probe, thereby eliminating post-PCR processing and potentially enhancing specificity. Consequently, a fluorogenic nuclease RT-PCR assay specific for rodent coronaviruses was developed.