Rat Theilovirus Infection
Rat theilovirus (RTV) is a Picornavirus within the Cardiovirus genus that is closely related to Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV). Serosurveys have revealed that it is one of the most common infections in laboratory rat colonies.
RTV was initially discovered in Sprague-Dawley rats, which exhibited central nervous system signs, with histopathologic lesions resembling TMEV in mice. The original isolate, known as MHG, induced posterior paresis in suckling rats and mice following intracerebral inoculation. Infection is typically subclinical and detected by seroconversion. Antibody is cross-reactive with TMEV antigen. Other strains that have been isolated include NSG910 and RTV1, which are genetically distinct from TMEV. Oral inoculation of rats with RTV has shown productive enteric infection and seroconversion. Viral antigen was detected within duodenal enterocytes, similar to TMEV in mice. Various inbred strains of rats had detectable virus for several weeks, and immunodeficient rats persistently carried high titers of virus. Lesions, including microscopic findings, were absent in the infected rats. Diagnosis is generally performed through serology, but immunohistochemistry and PCR may be used for confirmation.
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