title: Puumala virus infection in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) resembling hantavirus infection in natural rodent hosts.
abstract: The mechanism of hantavirus persistent infection in natural hosts is poorly understood due to a lack of laboratory animal models. Herein, we report that Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Puumala virus (PUUV) at 4 weeks old show persistent infection without clinical symptoms for more than 2 months. IgG and IgM antibodies against the viral nucleocapsid protein and neutralizing antibody were first detectable at 14 days postinoculation (dpi) and maintained through 70 dpi. Viral RNA was first detected from 3 dpi in lungs and blood clots, and was detected in all tissues tested at 7 dpi. The viral RNA persisted for at least 70 days in the lungs, kidney, spleen, heart, and brain. The highest level of RNA copies was observed at 14 dpi in the lungs. Slight inflammatory reactions were observed in the lungs, adrenal glands, and brain. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PUUV antigen persisted until 56 dpi in the kidneys and adrenal glands. Infected hamsters showed no body weight loss or clinical signs. These results indicate that PUUV infection in hamsters is quite similar to the hantavirus infection of natural host rodents.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanada
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kariwa
authors.forename: Noriyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimatsu
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arikawa
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshii
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takashima
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000821:virology; D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D001835:Body Weight; D006224:Cricetinae; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000821:virology*; D029262:Puumala virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral