Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1983 Oct;18(4):753–758. doi: 10.1128/jcm.18.4.753-758.1983

Evaluation of murine cytomegalovirus antibody detection by serological techniques.

C A Anderson, J C Murphy, J G Fox
PMCID: PMC270900  PMID: 6313750

Abstract

Naturally acquired murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection in laboratory strains of mice induces antibody levels which are generally undetectable by standard techniques; therefore, MCMV has not been included routinely in mouse viral antibody screening programs. The relative sensitivity of three assay systems, the nuclear anticomplement immunofluorescence (NACIF), the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the complement fixation (CF) test, was evaluated for the detection of MCMV antibodies. Sera were harvested from CD1 male mice (33 days old) infected intraperitoneally with salivary gland-passaged MCMV (Smith strain). The sera were assayed separately at weeks 1 through 8, and at week 11, 16, and 25 post-inoculation; a total of 167 mice in 11 groups were tested. The animals tested at 1 week post-inoculation had low levels of antibodies to MCMV as measured by the NACIF test (1:10), whereas only 25% were positive by ELISA, and none was positive by CF until 5 weeks post-inoculation. A higher titer of MCMV antibodies was measured by CF (1:640) than by NACIF (1:40) at 6 months post-inoculation; yet, a titer of 1:3,200 was detected by ELISA from the same serum. The ELISA technique was more sensitive for detecting persistent infection with MCMV, and NACIF was more useful for detecting acute MCMV infection. Since MCMV can have significant long-term effects on the immune system, it is recommended that testing for antibodies to MCMV be included in mouse viral antibody screening protocols.

Full text

PDF
756

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Andersen H. K. The influence of complement on cytomegalovirus neutralization by antibodies. Arch Gesamte Virusforsch. 1972;36(1):133–140. doi: 10.1007/BF01250303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BRODSKY I., ROWE W. P. Chronic subclinical infection with mouse salivary gland virus. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1958 Dec;99(3):654–655. doi: 10.3181/00379727-99-24451. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Betts R. F., George S. D., Rundell R. B., Freeman R. B., Douglas R. G., Jr Comparative activity of immunofluorescent antibody and complement-fixing antibody in cytomegalovirus infection. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Aug;4(2):151–156. doi: 10.1128/jcm.4.2.151-156.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bixler G. S., Jr, Booss J. Establishment of immunologic memory concurrent with suppression of the primary immune response during acute cytomegalovirus infection of mice. J Immunol. 1980 Aug;125(2):893–896. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Booss J., Wheelock E. F. Progressive inhibition of T-cell function preceding clinical signs of cytomegalovirus infection in mice. J Infect Dis. 1977 Mar;135(3):478–481. doi: 10.1093/infdis/135.3.478. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Booss J., Wheelock E. F. Role of viremia in the suppression of T-cell function during murine cytomegalovirus infection. Infect Immun. 1977 Aug;17(2):378–381. doi: 10.1128/iai.17.2.378-381.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Brody A. R., Craighead J. E. Pathogenesis of pulmonary cytomegalovirus infection in immunosuppressed mice. J Infect Dis. 1974 Jun;129(6):677–689. doi: 10.1093/infdis/129.6.677. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cheung K. S., Huang E. S., Lang D. J. Murine cytomegalovirus: detection of latent infection by nucleic acid hybridization technique. Infect Immun. 1980 Mar;27(3):851–854. doi: 10.1128/iai.27.3.851-854.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Cheung K. S., Li J. K., Falletta J. M., Wagner J. L., Lang D. J. Murine cytomegalovirus infection: hematological, morphological, and functional study of lymphoid cells. Infect Immun. 1981 Jul;33(1):239–249. doi: 10.1128/iai.33.1.239-249.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gardner M. B., Officer J. E., Parker J., Estes J. D., Rongey R. W. Induction of disseminated virulent cytomegalovirus infection by immunosuppression of naturally chronically infected wild mice. Infect Immun. 1974 Oct;10(4):966–969. doi: 10.1128/iai.10.4.966-969.1974. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Grundy J. E., Melief C. J. Effect of Nu/Nu gene on genetically determined resistance to murine cytomegalovirus. J Gen Virol. 1982 Jul;61(Pt 50):133–136. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-61-1-133. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hamilton J. R., Overall J. C., Glasgow L. A. Synergistic effect on mortality in mice with murine cytomegalovirus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, or Candida albicans infections. Infect Immun. 1976 Oct;14(4):982–989. doi: 10.1128/iai.14.4.982-989.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hamilton J. R., Overall J. C., Jr, Glasgow L. A. Synergistic infection with murine cytomegalovirus and Candida albicans in mice. J Infect Dis. 1977 Jun;135(6):918–924. doi: 10.1093/infdis/135.6.918. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hudson J. B. The murine cytomegalovirus as a model for the study of viral pathogenesis and persistent infections. Arch Virol. 1979;62(1):1–29. doi: 10.1007/BF01314900. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Iqbal M., Grand N. G. Biochemical events in murine cytomegalovirus-infected mouse liver. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1973 Feb;142(2):567–571. doi: 10.3181/00379727-142-37068. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Jordan M. C. Interstitial pneumonia and subclinical infection after intranasal inoculation of murine cytomegalovirus. Infect Immun. 1978 Jul;21(1):275–280. doi: 10.1128/iai.21.1.275-280.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kettering J. D., Schmidt N. J., Lennette E. H. Improved glycine-extracted complement-fixing antigen for human cytomegalovirus. J Clin Microbiol. 1977 Dec;6(6):647–649. doi: 10.1128/jcm.6.6.647-649.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kettering J. D., Schmidt N. J., Lennette E. H. Improved glycine-extracted complement-fixing antigen for human cytomegalovirus. J Clin Microbiol. 1977 Dec;6(6):647–649. doi: 10.1128/jcm.6.6.647-649.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lussier G. Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Adv Vet Sci Comp Med. 1975;19:223–247. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. MANNINI A., MEDEARIS D. N., Jr Mouse salivary gland virus infections. Am J Hyg. 1961 May;73:329–343. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a120192. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. MEDEARIS D. N., Jr MOUSE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION. II. OBSERVATIONS DURING PROLONGED INFECTIONS. Am J Hyg. 1964 Jul;80:103–112. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. McIntosh K., Kapikian A. Z., Hardison K. A., Hartley J. W., Chanock R. M. Antigenic relationships among the coronaviruses of man and between human and animal coronaviruses. J Immunol. 1969 May;102(5):1109–1118. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Mintz L., Miner R. C., Yeager A. S. Anticomplement immunofluorescence test that uses isolated fibroblast nuclei for detection of antibodies to human cytomegalovirus. J Clin Microbiol. 1980 Oct;12(4):562–565. doi: 10.1128/jcm.12.4.562-565.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Mohamed A. H. Murine cytomegalovirus-infected liver: depletion of acid phosphatase with concomitant increase of alkaline phosphate. Microbios. 1974 Apr;10(38):103–113. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Osborn J. E., Blazkovec A. A., Walker D. L. Immunosuppression during acute murine cytomegalovirus infection. J Immunol. 1968 Apr;100(4):835–844. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Osborn J. E., Medearis D. N., Jr Suppression of interferon and antibody and multiplication of Newcastle disease virus in cytomegalovirus infected mice. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1967 Feb;124(2):347–353. doi: 10.3181/00379727-124-31740. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Osborn J. E., Shahidi N. T. Thrombocytopenia in murine cytomegalovirus infection. J Lab Clin Med. 1973 Jan;81(1):53–63. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Shanley J. D., Pesanti E. L., Nugent K. M. The pathogenesis of pneumonitis due to murine cytomegalovirus. J Infect Dis. 1982 Sep;146(3):388–396. doi: 10.1093/infdis/146.3.388. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Shanley J. D., Pesanti E. L. Replication of murine cytomegalovirus in lung macrophages: effect of phagocytosis of bacteria. Infect Immun. 1980 Sep;29(3):1152–1159. doi: 10.1128/iai.29.3.1152-1159.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES