MORPHOLOGY OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (SALIVARY GLAND VIRUS)

Smith, Kendall O. (Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas) and Lucy Rasmussen. Morphology of cytomegalovirus (salivary gland virus). J. Bacteriol. 85:1319-1325. 1963.-The size and fine structure of cytomegalovirus was compared with that of herpes virus. Cytomegalovirus stains as a DNA virus and is almost identical in size to herpes virus. Both viruses have enveloped forms and display protein membrane subunits which are almost identical in number, size, and arrangement. Cytomegalovirus closely resembles herpes virus produced early in its growth cycle (9 hr) in that most of the particles are coreless and somewhat ragged in appearance. The particle-infectivity ratio with cytomegalovirus is extremely high, approximating 10(7) to 10(8). Although the average yield per cell was approximately 10,000 particles, only about one infectious unit per 1,000 cells was obtained. The biological explanation for this inefficiency of infectious virus synthesis is presently unknown, but the physical explanation appears to be that the nucleic acid cores are not complete. Not one particle was found, among over 1,000 examined, which stained as if it had a complete core.

TRANSPLANTATION PNEUMONIA

A clinically distinct pneumonitis occurred in six renal transplant recipients receiving azathioprine and prednisone immunosuppressive therapy. The patients ranged in age from 3 to 20 years. The onset was 42 to 102 days postoperatively, coinciding with decrease in prednisone dosage below approximately 1 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. Mild nonproductive cough, fever, and cynanosis were present. Chest x-rays demonstrated extensive hazy to nodular infiltrates usually involving both hila and lower lung fields. Cold agglutinins were present in five patients. Pulmonary function studies demonstrated an alveolar capillary block. The duration of illness was 12 to 34 days and was not influenced by antibiotic therapy. Autopsy of the single case in which death occurred revealed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and disseminated cytomegalic inclusion-body disease.