THE ROLE OF MONONUCLEAR BLOOD-CELLS IN EXPERIMENTAL JUNIN VIRUS SPREAD TO THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM

The neuroinvasiveness of Junin virus depends on the viral strain, anim al species, and age, The role of infected blood cells in hematogenous Junin virus spread to the central nervous system (CNS) was studied by determining the growth in pheripheral mononuclear cells and brain tiss ue of Candid 1 and XJCL3 laboratory strains, in Calomys musculinus and guinea pigs, The present study demonstrated that Junin virus replicat es in circulating peripheral lymphocytes and macrophages of Ii-day-old guinea pigs and 6 +/- 1-day-old Calomys musculinus, Moreover, the obs ervation that mononuclear phagocyte depletion did block Junin virus ne uroinvasion firmly indicates that the cellular viremia (circulating mo nocytes) is one of the mechanisms of Junin virus attenuated strains sp read to the CNS in animal hosts.