Changes in body fluid compartments, tissue water and electrolyte distribution, and lipid concentrations in rhesus macaques with yellow fever.

Rhesus macaques were inoculated subcutaneously with 40 plaque-forming units of yellow fever (YF) virus. To identify pathophysiologic mechanisms of YF, rectal temperatures and evidence of viremia were observed daily; physiologic and biochemical changes were studied on postinoculation day (PID) 5. Marked viremia was detected on PID 2 through 5, and fever was first observed on PID 4. On PID 5, blood and plasma volumes and circulatory K+ values increased, whereas RBC volume, PCV, and plasma cholesterol concentration decreased. Total lipids (mainly triglycerides) accumulated in the liver of inoculated macaques; alterations in hepatic content of water, electrolytes, and trace metals were also observed. Certain parts of the CNS, skeletal muscle, skin, heart, diaphragm, and renal cortex were affected, with changes noticed in water, electrolyte, trace metal, and lipid concentrations. These tissue changes indicated that cellular metabolism was altered and that the transport mechanisms of cell membranes of certain tissues were modified by YF virus or the disease process caused by the virus. Terminal hypoglycemia (57.6 +/- 12.1 mg/dl) was observed. The YF-induced intracellular dehydration of the medulla oblongata at the later stage of illness may depress the cardiovascular and respiratory centers, thus contributing to death of rhesus macaques infected with YF virus.