ROTAVIRUS AND REOVIRUS INTERACTION WITH MOUSE PERITONEAL RESIDENT PHAGOCYTIC-CELLS

Rotaviruses and reoviruses are involved in human and animal diseases. It is known that both viruses penetrate the gastrointestinal tract but their interaction viith phagocytic cells is unknown. To study this in teraction, peritoneal resident phagocytic cells were used and rotaviru s and reovirus replication in peritoneal phagocytic cells was observed . However, rotavirus replication in these cells led to the production of defective particles since MA-104 cells inoculated with rotavirus ph agocytic cell lysate did not show any evidence of virus replication. O n the basis of these results, we suggest that, although reovirus disse mination may be helped by these phagocytic cells, these cells may cont rol rotavirus infection and probably contribute to the prevention of i ts dissemination.