Development of neutralizing antibodies correlates with resolution of interstitial pneumonia after measles virus infection in cotton rats

Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus, inbred strain COTTON/NIco) have been shown to be a good animal model to investigate measles virus (MV) immune suppress ion and to assess alternative vaccine candidates against MV infection. Here we demonstrate that cotton rats develop a bronchus-associated and intersti tial pneumonia with necrotic lesions after intranasal infection resembling findings from fatal cases of human MV pneumonia. In the absence of superinf ection restitutio nd integrum is observed and overcoming of lung infection correlates with the development of MV specific neutralizing antibodies.