Further studies of the reasons for the lack of alveolar infection during influenza in ferrets

Abstract

Intratracheal inoculation of influenza virus in the ferret was followed by a more severe airway infection than that produced by nasal infection and was mainly bronchiolar rather than bronchial. Also, virus isolation from the alveolar zone of the lung together with immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques showed that some virus reached the alveoli. Nevertheless, there was no subsequent alveolitis suggesting the existence of a clearance phenomenon. Alveolar macrophages were shown to have phagocytosed virus in vivo and phagocytosis studies in vitro showed that two mechanisms could operate to eradicate the virus. First, a rapid destruction of virus and second an abortive cycle of replication which produced virus antigen but not infectious virus. Experiments with large doses of virus indicated that after intranasal inoculation little virus reached the alveoli so it would probably be quickly cleared by the macrophages.