Within-host competition prevents viral shedding into the saliva.

<p>Shedding of C4A (open circles) and C4C (filled triangles) was assessed during co-infection (a total of 1×10⁴ pfu of virus given i.p.) in <b>A</b>. TC1 mice, <b>B</b>. BALB/c mice, <b>C</b>. B6 mice and <b>D</b>. CMV1^r mice. Note, both viruses were present in the saliva of Ly49H⁻ (TC1 and BALB/c) mice, whereas C4A was excluded from the saliva of Ly49H⁺ (B6 and CMV1^r) mice. The effect of m157 on viral shedding was also assessed. B6 mice were infected with 1×10⁴ pfu of C4C, K181 or K181^Δm157 or co-infected a total of 1×10⁴ pfu of either C4C and K181^Δm157 or C4C and K181. Shedding of virus into the saliva was assessed by qPCR <b>E</b>. Viral DNA in the saliva of mice infected with C4C (filled triangles), K181 (filled squares) or K181^Δm157 (filled circles). All three strains of MCMV were shed into the saliva during single strain infection. <b>F</b>. Viral DNA in the saliva of mice co-infected with C4C (open triangles) and K181^Δm157 (open circles). <b>G</b>. Viral DNA in the saliva of mice co-infected with C4C (open triangles) and K181 (open squares). Note both C4C and K181^Δm157 were shed into the saliva of B6 during co-infection, however K181 was excluded from the saliva when co-infected with C4C. Data are mean ± SEM for 5 animals per group. Dotted line indicates limit of detection.