Protection Conferred against Junin Virus Infection in Rats

Abstract

2-day-old Wistar rats intracerebrally infected with the XJC13 strain of Junin virus exhibited a 5% survival rate which rose to 71 % after immune serum treatment. Brain viral titers were relatively unaffected by this treatment. Histologic studies showed necrosis in the cerebellum and brain cortex with mononuclear cell infiltration in both treated and nontreated groups. Beginning on day 16 postinfection, however, intracerebral perivascular gliosis foci and mild meningeal congestion were minimal in the treated animals. These findings imply that passively transferred humoral immunity leads to prompt recovery in this experimental model.

Immunosuppression-induced susceptibility of inbred hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) to lethal-disease by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection

“…H o w e v e r , in several a r e n a v i r a l disease models i m m u n o s u p p r e s s i v e t r e a t m e n t e x a c e r b a t e s clinical disease m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d d e a t h , r a t h e r t h a n affording host p r o t e c t i o n : P i c h i n d e virus in h a msters [6], selected J u n i n virus strains in rats, mice, a n d guinea pigs [4,5,12,21], a n d LCMV in guinea pigs [36]. T h e s e models are m o r e r e l e v a n t to the a r e n a v i r a l h e m o r r h a g i c fevers of m a n [30,31] r a t h e r t h a n the well studied m u r i n e -L C M V systems.…”

South American Hemorrhagic Fevers: A summary for clinicians

“…Prophylaxis with 10 -28 days of ribavirin decreased mortality in guinea pigs following Pichindé virus (a clade A NW arenavirus) exposure (Lucia et al, 1989;Smee et al, 1993). Postexposure prophylaxis with ribavirin in animal models of JUNV increased survival although some animals receiving prophylaxis developed LNS symptoms (Blejer et al, 1984;Kenyon et al, 1986a;Avila et al, 1987;McKee et al, 1988;Salazar et al, 2012). One guideline suggests the off-label use of oral ribavirin, 500 mg 4 times daily for 7 days, may be considered for postexposure prophylaxis in people with a high-risk exposure to either JUNV or MACV (Bossi et al, 2004).…”