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.
Calvo-Pinilla
Eva
E
Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Madrid, Spain.
Rodríguez-Calvo
Teresa
T
Anguita
Juan
J
Sevilla
Noemí
N
Ortego
Javier
J
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