Immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of respiratory syncytial virus infection in the cotton rat.

Human convalescent antiserum to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) administered intraperitoneally to cotton rats prior to RSV challenge provided near-complete protection from pulmonary infection. Antiserum given subsequent to viral challenge reduced pulmonary viral titers 100-fold or greater within 24 h. Sandoglobulin, a preparation of purified human IgG with high titer of anti-RSV neutralizing activity, produced the same effects as convalescent antiserum. Sandoglobulin was absorbed rapidly and produced a significant therapeutic reduction in virus titer within 3 h. The level of virus reduction in pulmonary and nasal tissues was directly proportional to the neutralizing antibody titer in the cotton rat serum, and was always greater in the lungs than the nose. Animals treated therapeutically with Sandoglobulin had a depressed primary antibody response to infection, but were completely resistant to reinfection with RSV. Histologic examination of pulmonary tissues from Sandoglobulin-treated animals showed no pathologic changes.