VIROLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL LONG TERM OBSERVATION OF PANCREATITIS IN MICE INFECTED WITH COXSACKIE VIRUS B 3

Abstract

Mice infected with Coxsackie virus B 3 and suffering from pancreatitis were examined virologically and histopathologically for 2 years. The virus was isolated from the myocardium and brown fat in some of them sacrificed on days 7, after virus inoculation. On or after days 14, however, no virus was recovered. Coxsackie virus B 3 produced severe pancreatitis with degeneration, necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, giant cell formation, calcification and fat replacement in the acinar cells, and mild or moderate changes, proliferation and degeneration in the islet cells. These changes were marked when examined on days 7, 14, and 30 after infection. On and after days 60, however, the incidence and degree of the intensity of acute inflammatory changes were lower than those on day 7, 14, or 30. Mild or moderate degeneration, necrosis, cell infiltration, calcification in the acinar cells, and degeneration in the islet cells persisted as long as 2 years. Pancreatitis caused by subclinical infection with Coxsackie virus B 3 may result in permanent pancreatic injury.