Establishment of a bluetongue virus infection model in mice that are deficient in the alpha/beta interferon receptor.
Bluetongue (BT) is a noncontagious, insect-transmitted disease of ruminants caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV). A laboratory animal model would greatly facilitate the studies of pathogenesis, immune response and vaccination against BTV. Herein, we show that adult mice deficient in type I IFN receptor (IFNAR((-/-))) are highly susceptible to BTV-4 and BTV-8 infection when the virus is administered intravenously. Disease was characterized by ocular discharges and apathy, starting at 48 hours post-infection and quickly leading to animal death within 60 hours of inoculation. Infectious virus was recovered from the spleen, lung, thymus, and lymph nodes indicating a systemic infection. In addition, a lymphoid depletion in spleen, and severe pneumonia were observed in the infected mice. Furthermore, IFNAR((-/-)) adult mice immunized with a BTV-4 inactivated vaccine showed the induction of neutralizing antibodies against BTV-4 and complete protection against challenge with a lethal dose of this virus. The data indicate that this mouse model may facilitate the study of BTV pathogenesis, and the development of new effective vaccines for BTV.
Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Madrid, Spain.
Eva
E
Calvo-Pinilla
Teresa
T
Rodríguez-Calvo
Juan
J
Anguita
Noemí
N
Sevilla
Javier
J
Ortego
D000818:Animals; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002460:Cell Line; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D014765:Viral Vaccines; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta