INFECTION OF REOVIRUS TYPE-3 IN MONGOLIAN GERBILS (MERIONES-UNGUICULATUS) - LESIONS IN PANCREAS AND BRAIN

Gerbils were inoculated with reovirus type 3 (Abney strain), and the p ancreas, brain and other organs histopathologically evaluated. Male Mo ngolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) aged 5 - 10 days (newborn, 9 a nimals), 4 weeks (juvenile, 5 animals), and 12 weeks (adult, 5 animals ) were used. Gerbils inoculated intraperitoneally with the virus were sacrificed 3, 5, 7, or 10 days later. Tissues were observed by light a nd electron microscopy. The pancreas of newborns showed inflammatory e dema with infiltrates of neutrophilis and mononuclear round cells, deg ranulation of acinar cells and dissociation of lobules and acini with necrosis at 3 days or later after inoculation but not degeneration of pancreatic islets. Brains of newborns had necrosis of neurons and aggr egation of microglial cells in the brain stem and cerebral hemisphere. Azurophilic inclusion bodies were seen in the cytoplasm of some neuro ns. In electron micrographs, virus particles (60 - 80 nm in diameter) were observed around the nucleus of neurons in the brain stem. No chan ges were observed in the juvenile and adult gerbils.