Epstein–Barr virus can infect rabbits by the intranasal or peroral route: An animal model for natural primary EBV infection in humans
- 19 April 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Medical Virology
- Vol. 82 (6), 977-986
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.21597
Abstract
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is spread universally in humans, and it causes infectious mononucleosis and sometimes induces serious EBV-associated disease. The detailed mechanism of primary infection in humans has remained unclear, because it is difficult to examine the dynamics of EBV in vivo. In this study, a natural EBV-infection rabbit model by intranasal or peroral inoculation is described. Ten male rabbits were examined for EBV-DNA or mRNA expression and anti-EBV antibodies in blood. Four of 10 rabbits showed the evidence of EBV infection; detection of EBV-DNA or EBV-related genes mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, increased EBV antibodies in the plasma, and the presence of lymphocytes expressing EBER1 and EBV-related gene proteins in the lymphoid tissues of a rabbit. Three of four infected rabbits were detected transiently EBV-DNA and/or mRNA of EBV-related genes such as EBNA1, EBNA2, BZLF1, and EA in blood, while in one of four, EBV-DNA and/or mRNA were detected for more than 200 days after viral inoculation. The level of EA-IgG increased and its level was maintained in all infected rabbits, whereas those of VCA-IgM and VCA-IgG increased transiently, and EBNA-IgG was not elevated. Pathological examination of a rabbit infected transiently revealed some scattered lymphocytes expressing EBER1, LMP1, and EBNA2 in the spleen and lymph nodes. EA expression was also observed in the spleen. These findings suggest that EBV can infect the rabbit by the intranasal or peroral route, and that this rabbit model is useful for examining the pathophysiology of natural primary EBV infection in humans. J. Med. Virol. 82:977–986, 2010.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- CD34+ Cord Blood Cell-Transplanted Rag2−/− γc−/− Mice as a Model for Epstein-Barr Virus InfectionThe American Journal of Pathology, 2008
- A new animal model for primary and persistent Epstein–Barr virus infection: Human EBV‐infected rabbit characteristics determined using sequential imaging and pathological analysisJournal of Medical Virology, 2008
- Emergence of Anti-Red Blood Cell Antibodies Triggers Red Cell Phagocytosis by Activated Macrophages in a Rabbit Model of Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Hemophagocytic SyndromeThe American Journal of Pathology, 2007
- Multiplex-nested RT-PCR to evaluate latent and lytic Epstein Barr virus gene expressionJournal of Biotechnology, 2007
- Experimental rhesus lymphocryptovirus infection in immunosuppressed macaques: an animal model for Epstein-Barr virus pathogenesis in the immunosuppressed hostBlood, 2004
- Epstein–Barr Virus InfectionThe New England Journal of Medicine, 2000
- Description of an In Situ Hybridization Methodology for Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus RNA in Paraffin-Embedded Tissues, with a Survey of Normal and Neoplastic TissuesDiagnostic Molecular Pathology, 1992
- The Chronic Mononucleosis SyndromeThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1988
- Epstein–Barr Virus Replication in Oropharyngeal Epithelial CellsThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1984
- VIRUS PARTICLES IN CULTURED LYMPHOBLASTS FROM BURKITT'S LYMPHOMAThe Lancet, 1964