ABSTRACT
The amplification of Marburg virus in primary cultures of peritoneal macrophages of animals with different sensitivity to infection with this virus, as well as the capacity of this virus to adsorb on macrophages were studied. Macrophages of the animals sensitive to Marburg virus were capable to support its reproduction in vitro whereas those of resistant animals were not. Macrophages of the animals with intermediate sensitivity were shown to be either completely resistant to virus reproduction or to delay it. Besides, macrophages of sensitive and insensitive animals were capable to adsorb this virus, this capacity being markedly reduced in macrophages isolated from immunized animals and those sensitive animals which developed the disease after inoculation of the virus. The authors conclude that animal susceptibility to Marburg virus in vivo correlated with the capacity of macrophages to support Marburg virus reproduction in vitro and not with the capacity of the virus to adsorb on the macrophage surface. It is suggested that the evaluation of Marburg virus amplification in macrophages could be used as a criterion for evaluation of the susceptibility of animals to this virus in vivo.
