title: The Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) as a Lethal Infection Model for 3 Species of Ebolavirus.
abstract: Small-animal models have been developed for several Filoviridae species; however, serial adaptation was required to produce lethal infection. These adapted viruses have sequence changes in several genes, including those that modulate the host immune response. Nonhuman primate models do not require adaptation of filoviruses. Here, we describe lethal models of disease for Bundibugyo, Sudan, and Zaire species of Ebolavirus in the domestic ferret, using wild-type nonadapted viruses. Pathologic features were consistent with disease in primates. Of particular importance, this is the only known small-animal model developed for Bundibugyo and the only uniformly lethal animal model for Bundibugyo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
authors.forename: Chad E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mire
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
authors.forename: Viktoriya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borisevich
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
authors.forename: Joan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Geisbert
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
authors.forename: Karla A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Geisbert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola
keywords: Ebola virus; Filovirus; adaptation; animal model; coagulopathy; ferret; pathogenesis; permeability; therapeutics; vaccines; virulence