Pneumocystis carinii infection causes lung lesions historically attributed to rat respiratory virus.

ABSTRACT: Idiopathic lung lesions characterized by dense perivascular cuffs of lymphocytes and a lymphohistiocytic interstitial pneumonia have been noted in research rats since the 1990s. Although the etiology of this disease has remained elusive, a putative viral etiology was suspected and the term 'rat respiratory virus' (RRV) has been used in reference to this disease agent. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Pneumocystis carinii infection in immunocompetent rats can cause idiopathic lung lesions previously attributed to RRV. In archived paraffin-embedded lungs (n = 43), a significant association was seen between idiopathic lung lesions and Pneumocystis DNA detected by PCR. In experimental studies, lung lesions of RRV developed in 9 of 10 CD rats 5 wk after intratracheal inoculati

SUBMITTER: Livingston RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3060427 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature