title: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection of macaques: a model for Lassa fever.
abstract: Arenaviruses such as Lassa fever virus (LASV) and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) are benign in their natural reservoir hosts, and can occasionally cause severe viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) in non-human primates and in human beings. LCMV is considerably more benign for human beings than Lassa virus, however certain strains, like the LCMV-WE strain, can cause severe disease when the virus is delivered as a high-dose inoculum. Here we describe a rhesus macaque model for Lassa fever that employs a virulent strain of LCMV. Since LASV must be studied within Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) facilities, the LCMV-infected macaque model has the advantage that it can be used at BSL-3. LCMV-induced disease is rarely as severe as other VHF, but it is similar in cases where vascular leakage leads to lethal systemic failure. The LCMV-infected macaque has been valuable for describing the course of disease with differing viral strains, doses and routes of infection. By monitoring system-wide changes in physiology and gene expression in a controlled experimental setting, it is possible to identify events that are pathognomonic for developing VHF and potential treatment targets.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: C David
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pauza
authors.forename: Mahmoud M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Djavani
authors.forename: Juan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rodas
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moshkoff
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ateh
authors.forename: Cybele
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Igor S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Lukashevich
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Salvato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001117:Arenaviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007835:Lassa Fever / Q000473:pathology*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008253:Macaca mulatta