title: Development of a Hamster Model for Chikungunya Virus Infection and Pathogenesis.
abstract: Chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes severe, debilitating infectious arthritis in humans. The need for an animal model to study the disease process and evaluate potential treatments is imminent as the virus continues its spread into novel geographic locations. Golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) are often used as outbred laboratory animal models for arboviral diseases. Here we demonstrate that hamsters inoculated with chikungunya virus developed viremia and histopathologic lesions in their limbs and joints similar to those seen in human patients. The virus disseminated rapidly and was found in every major organ, including brain, within a few days of infection. Hamsters did not manifest overt clinical signs, and the virus was generally cleared within 4 days, followed by a strong neutralizing antibody response. These results indicate that hamsters are highly susceptible to chikungunya virus infection and develop myositis and tenosynovitis similar to human patients followed by a complete recovery. This animal model may be useful for testing antiviral drugs and vaccines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bosco-Lauth
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Medicine Laboratory and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Sushan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Airn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065632:Chikungunya Fever / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology