Experimental Infection of Rhesus Monkeys with Lassa Virus and a Closely Related Arenavirus, Mozambique Virus

As a model for the pathogenesis of Lassa fever in humans, nine rhesus monkeys were inoculated with Lassa virus. Three monkeys had had a previous asymptomatic experimental infection with Mozambique virus, a closely related arenavirus; these monkeys were protected from illness and viremia and manifest...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1982-09, Vol.146 (3), p.360-368
Main Authors: Walker, D. H., Johnson, K. M., Lange, J. V., Gardner, J. J., Kiley, M. P., McCormick, J. B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Antibodies, Viral - analysis
Arenaviridae - immunology
Arenaviridae Infections - immunology
Arenavirus
Arteritis - etiology
Blood
Disease Models, Animal
Experimental Medicine
Infections
Inoculation
Lassa fever
Lassa Fever - immunology
Lassa Fever - pathology
Lassa virus
Lassa virus - immunology
Lassa virus - isolation & purification
Lesions
Liver - pathology
Macaca mulatta
Muscles - pathology
Paralysis - etiology
Pathology
Pulmonary Artery
Vaccination
Viremia
Viruses
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Summary:As a model for the pathogenesis of Lassa fever in humans, nine rhesus monkeys were inoculated with Lassa virus. Three monkeys had had a previous asymptomatic experimental infection with Mozambique virus, a closely related arenavirus; these monkeys were protected from illness and viremia and manifested only mild pathologic lesions. The other animals developed severe disease and viremia. At necropsy, hepatocellular necrosis, interstitial pneumonia, a unique pulmonary arteritis, adrenal gland necrosis, encephalitis, and uveitis were prominent pathologic lesions which correlated with the organ titers of virus. One animal infected with Lassa virus developed prolonged viremia, a typical immune response, and sudden onset of lower limb paralysis after recovery; at necropsy chronic proliferative arteritis of the spinal cord, brain, and heart was evident. Similarities and differences in the pathologic lesions in this model and Lassa fever in humans indicate that care must be taken in interpreting the results of experiments concerning immune prophylaxis, pathogenesis, and treatment in rhesus monkeys.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/146.3.360