| Title | An animal model for studying the pathogenesis of chikungunya virus infection. | | Author(s) | Ziegler SA, Lu L, da Rosa AP, Xiao SY, Tesh RB | | Institution | Department of Pathology and Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0609, USA. | | Source | Am J Trop Med Hyg 2008 Jul; 79(1):133-9. | | MeSH | Alphavirus Infections
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Arthritis, Infectious
Chikungunya virus
Disease Models, Animal
Humans
Mice
Viremia
| | Abstract | Newborn and 14-day-old mice inoculated subcutaneously with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) developed lethargy, difficulty walking, dragging of hind limbs, and reduced weight gain within 7-10 days after infection (PI). During the initial 6-7 days PI, the animals had viremia; high levels (10(6)-10(8) PFU) of CHIKV were also present in leg muscle. The virus persisted in muscle for several days after viremia disappeared. The major histopathologic changes were in skeletal muscle, which were focal necrosis and inflammation, followed by fibrosis and dystrophic calcification. Some mice also showed dystrophic calcification in the joint cartilage, but there were few deaths, and most of the animals eventually recovered. CHIKV antigen was shown by immunohistochemistry in the muscle for several weeks after infection. Based on the clinical and pathologic similarities with CHIKV infection in humans, young ICR and CD-1 mice offer a useful and realistic model for further study of the pathogenesis and treatment of CHIKV infection. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
| | PubMed ID | 18606777 |
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