Characterization of non-lethal West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in horses: Subclinical pathology and innate immune response

H. Bielefeldt-Ohmann; A. Bosco-Lauth; A-E Hartwig; M.J. Uddin; J. Barcelon; W.W. Suen; W. Wang; R.A. Hall; R.A. Bowen

doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2016.12.018

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Characterization of non-lethal West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in horses: Subclinical pathology and innate immune response

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Characterization of non-lethal West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in horses: Subclinical pathology and innate immune response

H. Bielefeldt-Ohmann, A. Bosco-Lauth, A-E Hartwig, M.J. Uddin, J. Barcelon, W.W. Suen, W. Wang, R.A. Hall and R.A. Bowen

Microbial Pathogenesis, Vol.103, pp.71-79

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2016.12.018

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Abstract

Most natural West Nile virus (WNV) infections in humans and horses are subclinical or sub-lethal and non-encephalitic. Yet, the main focus of WNV research remains on the pathogenesis of encephalitic disease, mainly conducted in mouse models. We characterized host responses during subclinical WNV infection in horses and compared outcomes with those obtained in a novel rabbit model of subclinical WNV infection (Suen et al. 2015. Pathogens, 4: 529). Experimental infection of 10 horses with the newly emerging WNV-strain, WNVNSW2011, did not result in neurological disease in any animal but transcriptional upregulation of both type I and II interferon (IFN) was seen in peripheral blood leukocytes prior to or at the time of viremia. Likewise, transcript upregulation for IFNs, TNFα, IL1β, CXCL10, TLRs, and MyD88 was detected in lymphoid tissues, while IFNα, CXCL10, TLR3, ISG15 and IRF7 mRNA was upregulated in brains with histopathological evidence of mild encephalitis, but absence of detectable viral RNA or antigen. These responses were reproduced in the New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) experimentally infected with WNVNSW2011, by intradermal footpad inoculation. Kinetics of the anti-WNV antibody response was similar in horses and rabbits, which for both species may be explained by the early IFN and cytokine responses evident in circulating leukocytes and lymphoid organs. Given the similarities to the majority of equine infection outcomes, immunocompetent rabbits appear to represent a valuable small-animal model for investigating aspects of non-lethal WNV infections, notably mechanisms involved in abrogating morbidity.

Details

Title: Characterization of non-lethal West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in horses: Subclinical pathology and innate immune response
Authors/Creators: H. Bielefeldt-Ohmann (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
A. Bosco-Lauth (Author/Creator) - Colorado State University
A-E Hartwig (Author/Creator) - Colorado State University
M.J. Uddin (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
J. Barcelon (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
W.W. Suen (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
W. Wang (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
R.A. Hall (Author/Creator) - The University of Queensland
R.A. Bowen (Author/Creator) - Colorado State University
Publication Details: Microbial Pathogenesis, Vol.103, pp.71-79
Publisher: Elsevier Limited
Identifiers: 991005542624807891
Copyright: © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.228 Virology - Tropical Diseases; 1.228.200 Mosquito-borne Viruses
Web Of Science research areas: Immunology; Microbiology
ESI research areas: Immunology