Minute virus of mice

The Minute Virus of Mice (MVM) is the prototype virus of the Protoparvovirus genus within the Parvoviridae family of viruses. MVM exists in two variant forms: MVMp, which is the prototype strain, infects cells of fibroblast origin, while MVMi, the immunosuppressive strain, infects T lymphocytes. MVM is a common infection in laboratory mice due to its highly contagious nature. The virus can be shed from infected mice via feces and urine, but also via fomites and nasal secretions. Typically there are no clinical signs of infection, however, experimental infection can cause multiple organ damage during fetal development or shortly after birth. While MVM infection may result in pathology of infected mice, the infection is more likely to cause problems for the ongoing study the mice are being used for as the immune system will be activated, the activity of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes will be altered and tumor formation may be suppressed.