Coxsackievirus infection of mice. II. Viral kinetics and histopathological changes in mice experimentally infected with coxsackievirus B3 by intraperitoneal route.

The study was focused on kinetics of Coxsackievirus B3 serotype (CVB3) in different organs of Swiss albino mice following intraperitoneal (i.p.) infection. The results indicated that the virus replicated in the heart, spleen, thymus, pancreas, small and large intestines in the acute stage of the infection. Infectious virus was present in the spleen till day 35 post infection (p.i.). Histopathology of the hearts showed mild foci of infiltration of mononuclear cells in the acute stage of infection and massive inflammation of exocrine pancreas on day 5 p.i. These results, when compared to those of our previous study (Bopegamage et al., 2003), suggest that the pathogenesis of the disease may be influenced by the route of virus administration into the host.