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Airborne transmission of polyoma virus
Abstract:
Polyoma virus (PV) infection was transmitted through the air of an animal laboratory. Mice free of detectable antibodies to PV were exposed for 1 month to the airborne environment of laboratories housing naturally infected mice. The seroconversion rate was 75% (24/32), as measured by hemagglutination inhibition. Control mice, housed in the sterile atmosphere of a mass air flow cabinet (MAFC) in the same laboratory, had a seroconversion rate of 15.8% (3/19). Airborne transmission occurred bia PV aerosois, generated by the handling of contaminated bedding, cages, and mice during weekly housekeeping. Length of exposure to PV aerosols correlated with seroconversion. One- and 3-hour exposures resulted in seroconversion rates of 40% (6/15) and 72% (23/32), respectively. Seroconversion rates of mice continuously housed in MAFC totaled 5% (2/40). Checkerboarding mice free of detectable antibodies with mice given 10(5) mean tissue culture infective doses of PV ip resulted in an airborne infection rate of 50% (15/30) in a conventionally ventilated room during a 12-week study. The airborne transmission rate was 10% (3/30) when experiments were performed in a mass air flow room with a vertical air velocity of 30 feet/minute was used. Antibodies to PV could not be detected in any of 138 human sera, including sera from 29 animal-care technicians who handled PV-infected mice and 15 personnel who had worked with the virus.
Insights
Polyoma virus (PV) can spread through the air in animal laboratories, infecting mice via aerosols. Airborne transmission risk increases with exposure duration, but human infection was not detected.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Laboratory Animal Science
- Infectious Disease Transmission
Background:
- Polyoma virus (PV) is a common pathogen in laboratory animals.
- Understanding airborne transmission routes is crucial for biosecurity in animal facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for airborne transmission of Polyoma virus (PV) within an animal laboratory setting.
- To assess the efficacy of mass air flow cabinets (MAFC) in preventing PV aerosol exposure.
Main Methods:
- Mice were exposed to airborne environments in animal laboratories housing naturally infected mice for one month.
- Control groups were housed in mass air flow cabinets (MAFC).
- Seroconversion rates were measured using hemagglutination inhibition (HAI).
- Exposure duration and ventilation conditions (conventional vs. MAFC) were varied to assess transmission rates.
Main Results:
- A high seroconversion rate (75%) was observed in mice exposed to the general laboratory airborne environment.
- Mice in MAFC showed significantly lower seroconversion rates (15.8% in same lab, 5% continuously housed).
- Exposure duration correlated with seroconversion; 3-hour exposures yielded higher rates than 1-hour exposures.
- Airborne transmission was reduced in MAFC rooms with specific air velocity.
- No Polyoma virus antibodies were detected in human sera, including animal care personnel.
Conclusions:
- Polyoma virus (PV) is readily transmitted via aerosols in animal laboratory environments.
- Mass air flow cabinets (MAFC) significantly reduce airborne transmission of PV.
- Current handling and housekeeping practices may contribute to PV aerosol generation.
- No evidence of human seroconversion to PV was found in the studied population.