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An Outbred Guinea Pig Disease Model for Lassa Fever Using a Host-Adapted Clade III Nigerian Lassa Virus
Yvon Deschambault1, Geoff Soule1, Levi Klassen1
1Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3M4, Canada.
Viruses
|March 30, 2023
Summary
A new guinea pig model for Lassa fever (LF) was developed using a Nigerian clade III Lassa virus (LASV). This model exhibits lethal disease, aiding in the evaluation of vaccines and treatments for Lassa fever.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Animal Models
Background:
- Nigeria faces recurrent Lassa fever (LF) outbreaks, frequently linked to Lassa virus (LASV) clades II and III.
- Understanding the pathogenesis of specific LASV clades is crucial for developing effective countermeasures.
Observation:
- A clade III LASV strain from Nigeria was adapted in guinea pigs over four passages.
- The adapted virus uniformly caused lethal disease in Hartley guinea pigs.
Findings:
- The adapted Lassa virus (LASV) model demonstrated high virulence (MLD50 = 10 TCID50) and reproduced key LF symptoms like fever, thrombocytopenia, and coagulation disorders.
- Significant viral loads were detected in organs, with notable lung and liver pathology including inflammation, edema, and steatosis.
Implications:
- This adapted clade III LASV guinea pig model offers a valuable platform for preclinical evaluation of Lassa fever vaccines.
- It facilitates the assessment of medical countermeasures against a relevant Nigerian Lassa virus strain.
