Cytopathogenic effect in cardiac myocytes but not in cardiac fibroblasts is correlated with reovirus-induced acute myocarditis.

A panel of reovirus strains was used to compare myocarditic potential with induction of cytopathic effect in primary cardiac myocyte and cardiac fibroblast cultures. The results suggest that viral cytopathogenicity in cardiac myocytes, but not in cardiac fibroblasts, is a determinant of reoviral myocarditis.