Mumps Infectivity Studies in Hamsters

Summary

Adult hamsters inoculated in-tranasally with the egg-adapted Enders strain of mumps virus produced complement fixing antibodies against both the soluble and viral antigens. These antibodies were present in measurable amounts from the 7th day after inoculation until the 38th day when the experiment was terminated. Antibodies against specific hemagglutinins also appeared on the 7 th day, reached a maximum level and decreased in a similar manner to the complement fixing antibodies. The production of antibodies against the soluble antigen was considered to be indicative of virus multiplication in the tissues of the animals. Multiplication was then demonstrated by recovery of the virus after serial passage through hamster lungs. Mumps virus has been isolated from hamster lungs following intranasal inoculation of throat washings from 4 patients with epidemic parotitis. Serial passage in hamsters carried out with one of these strains gave results similar to those obtained using the egg-adapted Enders strain. Histopatho-logical examination of lungs of hamsters inoculated either with the egg-adapted Enders strain or with a lung passage of a freshly isolated strain of mumps revealed the presence of bronchitis and interstitial pneumonitis. Specific antiserum when mixed with the standard virus suspension and similarly inoculated prevented such pathological changes, while non-specific serum had no such effect.