Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies in five cases of Argentine hemorrhagic fever.

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies on tissues from five patients with Argentine hemorrhagic fever revealed previously undetected lesions caused by the viral infection. Two types of particle were seen in the cells of all organs examined. The particles had some characteristics similar to those described for arenaviruses. However, the virus-like particles were intracellular, had a single membrane, and apparently originated by a process of budding into the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Intranuclear bodies and three types of cytopolasmic change were observed in conjunction with the virus-like particles; Antigenic determinants of Junin virus were demonstrated in cells of all organs examined. Immunohistochemical experiments also indicated alterations in the cellular mechanisms of protein synthesis. Until now the pathogenesis of human diseases produced by arenaviruses has not been established. The results of this study suggest that in Argentine hemorrhagic fever the virus is responsible for a direct pathogenic action.