Characteristics of Poxvirus‐Induced Meningitis: Virus‐Specific and Non‐Specific Cytotoxic Effectors in the Inflammatory Exudate

Abstract

Mice injected intracerebrally with a sublethal dose of vaccinia virus develop severe meningitis. The number of inflammatory cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) increases approximately threefold each day for 3 to 7 days after intracerebral challenge, subsequent to which samples can no longer be obtained because the cisterna magna is obliterated owing to brain swelling. Examination of this inflammatory exudate during the later stages of this pathological process shows evidence of both cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) function and the presence of Lyt1+ and Ly12+ cells on days 6 and 7, In addition, potent non‐T‐cell (Lyt2−) cytotoxic activity is found in CSF taken from younger (12 weeks) mice as earl..