Impairment in neurocognitive function following experimental neonatal guinea pig cytomegalovirus infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading infectious cause of neurologic deficits, both in the settings of congenital and perinatal infection, but few animal models exist to study neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study examined the impact of neonatal guinea pig CMV (GPCMV) infection on spatial learning and memory in a Morris water maze (MWM) model.

Methods

Newborn pups were challenged intraperitoneally (i.p.) with a pathogenic red fluorescent protein-tagged GPCMV, or sham inoculated. On days 15-19 post infection (p.i.), pups were tested in the MWM. Viral loads were measured in blood and tissue by quantitative PCR (qPCR), and brain samples collected at necropsy were examined by histology and immunohistochemistry.

Results

Viremia (DNAemia) was detected at day 3 p.i

SUBMITTER: Fernandez-Alarcon C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8168912 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature