Infection cellulaire persistante par un virus rabique incomplet sans excrétion virale: Excrétion d'un virus rabique complet après réactivation par le virus de carré

Abstract

Summary In the course of a persistent rabies infection of BHK21-S13 cells (550 passages in 6 years) by the HEP virus, biochemical and biological modifications in the virus were reported. The latter included a progressive decrease in viral excretion until its complete absence, with a loss of pathogenicity for suckling mice (5 days old). However, rabies antigens were encountered in the cells throughout the cell passages. Isolation of a complete rabies virus from the persistent infection was obtained at the 400th passage level by means of DEAE-dextran, whereas at the 500th passage level, reactivation of the complete rabies virus was obtained with a distemper virus. This phenomenon could not be observed with the homologous rabies virus (HEP) nor with another rhabdovirus, VSV, Indiana type. This in vitro simplified model of persistent rabies infection may serve to study the mechanism of in vivo viral reactivation by other viruses.