INHIBITION BY IOTA-CARRAGEENAN OF THE SPREAD OF MURINE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS FROM THE PERITONEAL-CAVITY TO THE BLOOD-PLASMA

The mechanism of iota-carrageenan (iota-CAR)-induced protection agains t murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection of mice was analysed. The vi rus titres in the target organs on the fourth day correlated with that in the plasma at Ih after intraperitoneal inoculation of MCMV, irresp ective of E-CAR treatment. Pretreatment of mice with I-CAR induced inf iltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils into the peritoneal cavity and inhibition of viral spread from the peritoneal cavity to the plasm a. Although the direct relationship of these two phenomena was unclear , the inhibition by iota-CAR of viral spread resulted in protection ag ainst MCMV infection of mice.