Therapeutic effect of acyclovir (ZoviraxTM) on the pathogenesis of chronic murine cytomegalovirus infection in the immunodeficient nude mouse

Abstract

The ability of acyclovir (ZoviraxTM) to influence the outcome of chronic cytomegalovirus infection in the nude mouse has been studied over a period of 3 weeks. Nude mice infected with a low dose of murine cytomegalovirus develop a chronic progressive disease which is characterized by typical lesions in the lung, the liver, salivary glands and many other organs. After 18-21 days most nude mice die of pneumonia and hepatitis. When acyclovir (ZoviraxTM) was administered s.c. twice daily, starting 1 day after the infectious dose of virus, a marked improvement was noted. No nude mice given the drug died in the 21-day period and the number of lesions to the lung, liver and salivary glands was reduced quantitatively by a highly significant amount.