Figure 1.

Andes virus (ANDV) is pathogenic, whereas Sin Nombre virus (SNV) causes an apathogenic infection in hamsters. (a) Groups of five hamsters were inoculated intranasally with ANDV or SNV and monitored for signs of disease and survival. (b, c) Hamsters (groups of six) were inoculated with ANDV or SNV and necropsied at the indicated time-points. (b) Lungs of virus-inoculated hamsters were analysed for the presence of viral S-segment RNA using virus-specific quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and in vitro transcribed RNA as standards. Data are represented as the mean and standard deviation of six hamsters per group. (c) Lung tissue was examined histologically after haematoxylin & eosin staining. *Areas of perivascular oedema.