Ecological characterization of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 and it’s epidemiological implications

Abstract

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) is a natural pathogen of free-living murid rodents, isolated from a bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) in Slovakia. It belongs to the family Herpesviridae, the genus Rhadinovirus, the species Murid herpesvirus 4. Neutralizing serum MHV-68 antibodies were found in animals of other species living with infected rodents in the same biotope (fallow deer, wild boars, deer, sheep, foxes, and mouflons) as well as in humans (laboratory personnel working with MHV-68 or wild rodents, hunters, general population). In this study, the shedding of MHV-68 in the nature was investigated on the model of laboratory mice experimentally infected with the virus. The virus was first detected in breast milk and lactic glands at day 4, in urine and salivary glands at day 9, and in saliva and tear glands at day 14 p.i. Out of intranasal, peroral, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous routes of infection the first two proved most effective.