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A Primate Model for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

Maria S Salvato1, Igor S Lukashevich2, Yida Yang3

  • 1University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA. msalvato@ihv.umaryland.edu.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|October 8, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This study details a rhesus macaque model for Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic fever. Researchers identified early blood changes in the pre-viremic stage predictive of disease progression in this primate model.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Primate Models
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain WE (LCMV-WE), a Risk Group 3 virus, serves as a model for Lassa fever virus (Risk Group 4).
  • Disease progression in rhesus monkeys infected with LCMV-WE is characterized by three stages: pre-viremic, viremic, and terminal.
  • Early, pre-viremic blood profile changes can predict later disease stages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify pathognomonic changes in the pre-viremic stage of LCMV-WE infection.
  • To establish a robust nonhuman primate model for studying viral hemorrhagic fevers.
  • To provide a guide for utilizing the rhesus macaque model for Lassa fever research.

Main Methods:

  • Infection of rhesus macaques with Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus strain WE (LCMV-WE).
  • Parallel infection with an attenuated virus (LCMV-Armstrong) to differentiate specific disease markers.
  • Profiling of disease stages: pre-viremic, viremic, and terminal.

Main Results:

  • The pre-viremic stage exhibits blood profile alterations that are predictive of subsequent disease progression.
  • Comparative infection with LCMV-Armstrong aids in identifying pathognomonic markers.
  • The rhesus macaque model effectively recapitulates key aspects of Lassa fever.

Conclusions:

  • The rhesus macaque model is valuable for studying viral hemorrhagic fevers, particularly Lassa fever.
  • Early detection of specific blood markers in the pre-viremic stage is crucial for understanding disease trajectory.
  • This model facilitates research into pathogenesis and potential therapeutic interventions for Lassa fever.
Keywords:
A-BSL-3LCMV-WELassa feverMacaque modelRisk group 3Risk group 4

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