Pneumonia virus of mice.
Transmission is via aerosol and contact exposure to the respiratory tract.
Active infections are short-lived and generally without clinical signs in euthymic mice and rats, and there is no carrier state. Pathologic lesions have not been reported in naturally infected mice or rats. Experimental intranasal infections of mice have resulted in mild rhinitis and interstitial pneumonia. The susceptibility of mice and rats may be increased by a variety of local and systemic stressors, and immune responsiveness is strain dependent. Experimentally infected athymic mice develop persistent interstitial pneumonia.