title: Pathogenesis of West Nile virus infection in dogs treated with glucocorticoids.
abstract: Control and glucocorticoid-treated dogs were infected with West Nile virus (WNV) through the bites of infected mosquitoes to study the effect of a commonly used immunomodulator on the magnitude and duration of viremia and on development of clinical disease. All dogs became viremic after challenge. The peak viremia and integrated magnitude of viremia were approximately 40 and 50 times higher, respectively, in the five dogs treated with methyl-prednisolone for 1 month compared with untreated dogs. None of the five control or treated dogs developed signs of clinical disease, nor was histopathologic evidence of neuroinvasion observed in any case. Neutralizing antibodies to WNV were produced in all dogs, with no apparent effect of glucocorticoid treatment. Considering the dramatic effect of glucocorticoid treatment on magnitude of viremia, it is likely that this therapy had suppressive effects on some aspect of innate immunity or T cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA. rbowen@colostate.edu
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rouge
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siger
authors.forename: Jules M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Minke
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nordgren
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014766:Viremia / Q000662:veterinary; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone