Postcoxsackievirus B3 Myocardiopathy in Mice

Abstract

Summary“Idiopathic myocardiopathy” in man may represent a sequel to an antecedent coxsackievirus infection. To test this hypothesis and to elucidate the possible pathogenetic mechanisms involved, the following studies were performed. Weanling mice were inoculated ip with 3 × 104 TCID50 of coxsackievirus B3 (Nancy). Five days later myocarditis could be demonstrated by viral isolation from the heart and by the presence of acute inflammation, necrosis and early mineralization. Thirty days after infection when the virus could no longer be recovered, the inflammatory response continued although there was evidence of simultaneous healing. Six months later there was extensive fibrosis and calcification, but scattered foci of chronic inflammation persisted. Delayed hypersensitivity to cardiac and viral antigens was studied in these mice by the macrophage migration inhibition method. Thirty days after infection no delayed hypersensitivity could be demonstrated to antigens prepared from a crude saline extract of no...