The relevance of viral culture based methods for the detection of rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV all-03) in the modern era of technology

In spite of the unequivocal advantages of traditional virological methods, its utilization seems to have taken a back seat coincident with the concurrent advances in science and technology. This study examined the impact of such techniques in the groundwork identification of rat cytomegalovirus ALL-03 strain. Virus was validated in terms of its intrauterine novelty, cytopathogenicity and was identified based on morphologic criteria classical of herpesvirus. Our findings demonstrate the suitability of primary brain endothelial cells for the propagation of the virus resulting in concomitant production of cytopathic effects and formation of plaques comparable to the ones produced in established secondary cell lines. In the absence of any known sequences for molecular based detection method, such findings provided critical clues crucial for the preliminary identification of the virus. This paper concludes that conventional methods such as tissue culture and electron microscopy are still in the forefront in the field of virology and remains relevant, but should ideally be used in conjunction with more advanced methodologies for a more comprehensive evaluation of novel viruses

Establishment of rat brain endothelial cells susceptible to rat cytomegalovirus ALL-03 infection

Endothelial cells have been implicated as key cells in promoting the pathogenesis and spread of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. This study describes the isolation and culture of rat brain endothelial cells (RBEC) and further evaluates the infectious potential of a Malaysian rat CMV (RCMV ALL-03) in these cultured cells. Brain tissues were mechanically fragmented, exposed to enzymatic digestion, purified by gradient density centrifugation, and cultured in vitro. Morphological characteristics and expression of von Willebrand factor (factor VIII-related antigen) verified the cells were of endothelial origin. RBEC were found to be permissive to the virus by cytopathic effects with detectable plaques formed within 7 d of infection. This was confirmed by electron microscopy examination which proved the existence of the viral particles in the infected cells. The susceptibility of the virus to these target cells under the experimental conditions described in this report provides a platform for developing a cell-culture-based experimental model for studies of RCMV pathogenesis and allows stimulation of further studies on host cell responses imposed by congenital viral infections

Binasal hemianopia due to bilateral internal carotid arteries dolichoectasia: A case report and literature review

Binasal hemianopia is rare. It is more commonly associated with ocular diseases than intracranial pathologies. Nevertheless, the proximity of internal carotid arteries (ICA) to the visual pathway may cause a variety of neurologic effects which may lead to visual loss. Although visual loss is uncommon, ICA aneurysm may compress the optic nerve causing visual field defect and reduced visual acuity. We report a 66-year-old male presented with asymptomatic binasal hemianopia detected during routine glaucoma screening. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and orbit showed dolichoectasia in the cavernous segment of both ICA, which compressed the pre-chiasmatic optic nerve bilaterally. Humphrey’s visual field test confirmed the diagnostic of binasal hemianopia respecting the vertical midline. This was the first reported case of binasal hemianopia without visual disturbances. This case highlights the importance of using CT and MRI as additional diagnostic tools to identify the true cause of binasal hemianopia (ICA dolichoectasia) in patients with glaucoma. A thorough assessment of any visual field defect helps to detect life-threatening intracranial pathologies effectively and is managed accordingly

Cross-reactivity of Malaysian rat cytomegalovirus strains with its human counterpart

This study probes into the prospect of cross-reactivity of HCMV with RCMV which has not been acknowledged to date. We describe the uncovering of a protein with an estimated size of between 61-68 kDa from local RCMV strains which reacted with HCMV positive sera. Our findings are a first disclosure of a plausible immunological cross-reactivity between RCMV with its human counterpart which grounds substantial interest implying existence of conserved determinants between rat and human CMV polypeptides. The cross-reactive protein most likely represents an enveloped glycoprotein, though the precise identification and its degree of similarity needs to be evidently defined and further elucidated in forthcoming experiments