The hamster as an animal model for eastern equine encephalitis--and its use in studies of virus entrance into the brain.
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) produces the most severe human arboviral diseases in the United States, with mortality rates of 30%-70%. Vasculitis associated with microhemorrhages in the brain dominates the pathological picture in fatal human eastern equine encephalitis, and neuronal cell death is detectable during the late stage of the disease. We describe use of the golden hamster to study EEEV-induced acute vasculitis and encephalitis. In hamsters, EEEV replicates in visceral organs, produces viremia, and penetrates the brain. The pathological manifestations and antigen distribution in the brain of a hamster are similar to those described in human cases of EEEV.
Paessler
Slobodan
S
Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Department of Pathology, National Institute of Environmental Health Services Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 77555, USA.
Aguilar
Patricia
P
Anishchenko
Michael
M
Wang
Hui-Qun
HQ
Aronson
Judith
J
Campbell
Gerald
G
Cararra
Ann-Sophie
AS
Weaver
Scott C
SC
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000821:virology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004663:Encephalitis Virus, Eastern Equine / Q000502:physiology*; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014766:Viremia / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral