Marburg and Ravn Virus Infections Do Not Cause Observable Disease in Ferrets

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Infectious Diseases
• Animal Models

Background:

• Ferrets are established models for studying Ebola virus infections.
• Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus are filoviruses with significant public health implications.
• Understanding susceptibility in animal models is crucial for filovirus research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if ferrets are susceptible to wild-type Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus.
• To evaluate the utility of ferrets as an animal model for MARV and Ravn virus infections.

Main Methods:

• Ferrets were challenged with MARV strain Angola, Musoke, and Ravn virus via intramuscular or intranasal routes.
• Animals were monitored for clinical signs of disease and mortality for 3 weeks post-challenge.
• Viremia and MARV-specific immunoglobulin antibody responses were assessed.

Main Results:

• Ferrets challenged with MARV strains Angola and Musoke, and Ravn virus, did not exhibit clinical signs of disease or mortality.
• No detectable viremia was observed in any of the challenged ferrets.
• All ferrets developed MARV-specific immunoglobulin antibody responses, indicating exposure.

Conclusions:

• Ferrets are not susceptible to the tested wild-type MARV and Ravn virus strains.
• Ferrets may be of limited value for studying the pathogenesis of MARV and Ravn virus infections.
• Alternative animal models may be necessary for filovirus research involving MARV and Ravn virus.