Development of neutralizing antibodies correlates with resolution of interstitial pneumonia after measles virus infection in cotton rats

Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus, inbred strain COTTON/NIco) have been shown to be a good animal model to investigate measles virus (MV) immune suppression and to assess alternative vaccine candidates against MV infection. Here we demonstrate that cotton rats develop a bronchusassociated and interstitial pneumonia with necrotic lesions after intranasal infection resembling findings from fatal cases of human MV pneumonia. In the absence of superinfection restitutio ad integrum is observed and overcoming of lung infection correlates with the development of MV specific neutralizing antibodies.