Fig. 4.

Infection with murine gamma herpes virus 68 (γHV68) reduces food consumption and body weights of C57BL/6J mice. Mice were inoculated intranasally with Hank’s balanced salt solution containing either 400 plaque forming units (pfu) of γHV68 (n = 13) or 40,000 pfu (n = 8) according to the protocol detailed in Figure 1. Daily values (mean ± SEM) for food consumption and body weights are expressed as absolute differences from average values obtained during the 4 day period of baseline recordings (protocol days −4 to 0), which is depicted by the zero line. Horizontal lines with asterisks denote statistically significant differences from control values (p < 0.05). Note that a statistically significant reduction in food consumption preceded by one day the loss of body weight.