Pulmonary Pathological Features in Viraemia Associated Secondary Lung Injury

Both African swine fever virus (ASFV) and Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) are important pathogens in veterinary. ASFV causes African swine fever (ASF) in pigs and RHDV causes rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) in rabbits. Secondary lung pathology was investigated for these diseases as one of the consequences of viraemia. Rabbits and pigs were taken for the observation of these diseases. Imprint smears of the lungs, lung tissue and blood samples from intact and infected animals were taken for the exploration. Afterwards, some observations were done for each animal: histopathological analysis of lungs, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell population counting and detection of serum TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and NO levels. Histopathological analysis showed many hemorrhages in lung tissue. BAL analysis presented significant changes in cell population. Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and NO were increased. From the results can be concluded, that there are many similarities in the secondary lung pathology for these viruses and the main mechanism of lung tissue pathology is the high vascular permeability caused by changes in cytokines and NO levels. histopathologic observation of lung tissues and examination of serum levels of NO, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. The mechanisms of lung pathologies in both the diseases are also being compared.