VIRURIA DURING ACUTE JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS-VIRUS INFECTION

In this study, viruria following Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) inf ection in mice has been shown to appear earlier in pregnant than in no rmal mice with proteinuria and haematuria. This was related to the pro duction of splenic macrophage derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (M DF) following JEV infection. Intravenous inoculation of MDF in mice re sulted in leakage of cells, proteins and erythrocytes in the urine as a result of altered capillary permeability. The isolation of virus fro m kidney did not correlate with the shedding of virus in the urine. Th e histological examination of sections of kidneys showed no morphologi cal damage; however, ultrastructural degenerative changes in the mesan gial cells were observed following JEV infection. These data suggest t hat JEV-induced macrophage derived factor regulates the leakage of pro teins, erythrocytes and cells into the urine.