title: Vaccination of alpacas against Rift Valley fever virus: Safety, immunogenicity and pathogenicity of MP-12 vaccine.
abstract: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging zoonosis of major public health concern in Africa and Arabia. Previous outbreaks attributed camelids a significant role in the epidemiology of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), making them an important target species for vaccination. Using three alpacas as model-organisms for dromedary camels, the safety, immunogenicity and pathogenicity of the MP-12 vaccine were evaluated in this study. To compare both acute and subacute effects, animals were euthanized at 3 and 31days post infection (dpi). Clinical monitoring, analysis of liver enzymes and hematological parameters demonstrated the tolerability of the vaccine, as no significant adverse effects were observed. Comprehensive analysis of serological parameters illustrated the immunogenicity of the vaccine, eliciting high neutralizing antibody titers and antibodies targeting different viral antigens. RVFV was detected in serum and liver of the alpaca euthanized 3dpi, whereas no virus was detectable at 31dpi. Viral replication was confirmed by detection of various RVFV-antigens in hepatocytes by immunohistochemistry and the presence of mild multifocal necrotizing hepatitis. In conclusion, results indicate that MP-12 is a promising vaccine candidate but still has a residual pathogenicity, which requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rissmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hammerschmidt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mroz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Groschup
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany. Electronic address: martin.eiden@fli.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eiden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002161:Camelids, New World; D002162:Camelus; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000276:immunology*; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: Camelids; MP-12; Rift Valley fever virus; Vaccine