Persistent shedding of West Nile virus in urine of experimentally infected hamsters.
Adult hamsters that survived experimental West Nile virus (WNV) infection developed persistent viruria. Infectious WNV could be cultured from their urine for up to 52 days. Immunohistochemical examination of kidneys of viruric animals showed foci of WNV antigen in renal tubular epithelial and vascular endothelial cells. These findings are compatible with virus replication and persistent infection of renal epithelial cells. The potential clinical and virologic significance of these findings as well as their possible epidemiologic importance are discussed.
Tonry
Jessica H
JH
Department of Pathology and Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609, USA.
Xiao
Shu-Yuan
SY
Siirin
Marina
M
Chen
Hongli
H
da Rosa
Amelia P A Travassos
AP
Tesh
Robert B
RB
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology; D008647:Mesocricetus; D017201:Virus Shedding; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000635:transmission*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000956:Antigens, Viral