The role of the lymphatic system in the development of experimental ornithosis in mice after intranasal and intraplantar infection, in relation to the use of lymphotropic antibiotics

Abstract

(1) Ornithosis virus, administered intranasally in amounts of 1,000 intracerebral LD50, was detected first in the lungs, 24 hours after infection, and later, i. e. after 48 hours, in the mediastinal lymph nodes in mice. It was not found in the blood or the cervical lymph nodes within 48 hours after infection. After the administration of about 200,000 LD50 by the same route, the virus was again detected in the lungs, as early as six hours after infection. During further intervals it spread to all the organs examined (the blood, the cervical and inguinal lymph nodes, the spleen and the brain). The highest titres were found in the lungs, where multiplication of the virus was associated with severe pathological changes leading, from the sixth day after infection, to death. (2) Following intraplantar administration, the main part in the spread of the virus from the site of administration into the organism was played by the regional lymph vessels. The virus appeared in the regional lymph nodes sooner, and in higher titres, than in the blood and after interception of the regional lymph vessels, viraemia occurred later in the experimental mice than in the intact controls. From the blood stream the virus spread to different lymphatic organs and others. Despite the fact that in some organs (after the administration of massive doses of virus), titres of over 4.5 log were reached, the mice displayed no signs of disease and did not die. (3) Intraplantar administration of the virus was found to be suitable for testing lymphotropic antibiotics with ornithosis virus.