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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
05:33
A Model for Epilepsy of Infectious Etiology using Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus
Published on: June 23, 2022
Theiler's virus infection chronically alters seizure susceptibility
Kerry-Ann A Stewart1, Karen S Wilcox, Robert S Fujinami
1Interdepartmental Program in Neuroscience, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Epilepsia
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Theiler
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Central nervous system infections are a significant risk factor for seizures and epilepsy.
- Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection in mice can cause acute seizures.
- Understanding post-infection seizure susceptibility is crucial for neurological disease research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pathological changes in the brain following TMEV infection and seizures.
- To determine if TMEV infection and seizures alter long-term seizure susceptibility.
- To investigate the influence of genetic background on seizure susceptibility after TMEV infection.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry to detect TMEV antigen and neuronal cell death.
- Electroconvulsive threshold (ECT) tests and corneal kindling to assess seizure susceptibility.
- Comparative studies in C57BL/6 (B6) and SJL/J mice to evaluate strain-dependent effects.
Main Results:
- TMEV selectively targets limbic structures, causing widespread neuronal cell death.
- Mice with acute seizures exhibited reduced seizure thresholds and accelerated kindling.
- These effects were dependent on the mouse genetic strain, with SJL/J mice showing different responses.
Conclusions:
- TMEV infection induces chronic alterations in seizure susceptibility in mice.
- TMEV infection in B6 mice provides a new model for studying post-infection hyperexcitability.
- Findings highlight the link between viral CNS infections and long-term epilepsy risk.
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