title: Frequent Zika Virus Sexual Transmission and Prolonged Viral RNA Shedding in an Immunodeficient Mouse Model.
abstract: Circulation of Zika virus (ZIKV) was first identified in the Western hemisphere in late 2014. Primarily transmitted through mosquito bite, ZIKV can also be transmitted through sex and from mother to fetus, and maternal ZIKV infection has been associated with fetal malformations. We assessed immunodeficient AG129 mice for their capacity to shed ZIKV in semen and to infect female mice via sexual transmission. Infectious virus was detected in semen between 7 and 21 days post-inoculation, and ZIKV RNA was detected in semen through 58 days post-inoculation. During mating, 73% of infected males transmitted ZIKV to uninfected females, and 50% of females became infected, with evidence of fetal infection in resulting pregnancies. Semen from vasectomized mice contained significantly lower levels of infectious virus, though sexual transmission still occurred. This model provides a platform for studying the kinetics of ZIKV sexual transmission and prolonged RNA shedding also observed in human semen.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
authors.forename: Nisha K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Duggal
authors.affiliation: Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Jana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.affiliation: Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pestorius
authors.affiliation: Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: Sherif R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Zaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
authors.forename: Brent S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
authors.forename: Gwong-Jen J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.affiliation: Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA. Electronic address: abrault@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Brault
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016513:Mice, SCID / Q000821:virology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Zika virus; animal model; mouse model; pregnancy; semen; sexual transmission; vasectomy