Role of Maternal Antibody in Natural Infection of Peromyscus maniculatus with Sin Nombre Virus

Abstract

Data from naturally infected deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were used to investigate vertical transmission of Sin Nombre virus (SNV) and SNV-specific antibody. The antibody prevalence in juvenile mice (14 g or less) was inversely proportional to the mass of the animal, with juvenile deer mice weighing less than 11 g most likely to be antibody positive (26.9%) and juvenile mice weighing between 13 and 14 g least likely to be antibody positive (12.9%). Although a significant sex bias in seropositivity was detected in adult deer mice, no significant sex bias in seropositivity was detected in juvenile animals. Ten juvenile deer mice were identified that had initially tested positive for SNV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) but had subsequently tested negative when recaptured as adults. SNV RNA was detected by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) in the blood of ELISA-positive adult deer mice but not in the blood of ELISApositive juveniles. One of the juvenile mice initially tested negative for SNV RNA but later tested positive when recaptured as an ELISA-positive adult. The RT-PCR results for that individual correlated with the disappearance and then reappearance of SNV-specific IgG, indicating that the presence of SNV RNA at later time points was due to infection with SNV via horizontal transmission. SNV-specific antibody present in both ELISApositive juvenile and adult mice was capable of neutralizing SNV. Additionally, our data indicate that SNV is not transmitted vertically.

Hantavirus Seroconversion of Wild-CaughtPeromyscusDuring Quarantine

“…Our finding that even a recently infected dam, one known to be infectious by horizontal route, did not transmit virus to her pups supports lack of vertical transmission of SN virus as argued previously by workers using less direct methods (9)(10)(11) Of 204 isolates, 62 (30%) showed resistance to >1 of 4 drugs tested (isoniazid, 8.8%; rifampicin, 6.4%; streptomycin, 19.6%; ethambutol, 4.9%). However, overall drug resistance, resistance to single drugs, and multidrug resistance were not associated with the Beijing genotype.…”

Rapid and Simple Method for Screening Wild Rodents for Antibodies to Sin Nombre Hantavirus

“…Prevalence of anti-SNV IgG in wild deer mice is highest in those Ͻ10.9 g mass, declines in mice Ն10.9-Յ14.3 g, and increases in those Ͼ14.3 g. The group of small mice probably acquired anti-SNV antibodies passively through the placenta and the decline in seroprevalence between birth and 14.3 g is thought to be due to attrition of maternal antibodies (Mills et al, 1997). Additional experimental evidence has continued to accrue demonstrating that specific anti-hantavirus IgG antibodies can be passed through the placenta and may be protective from challenge by SNV (Borucki et al, 2000;Camaioni, 2001;Botten et al, 2002).…”

Maternal antibodies postpone hantavirus infection and enhance individual breeding success

“…These maternal antibodies provide the newborns with a temporary protection against infection (e.g. Gavrilovskaya et al 1990;Dohmae et al 1993;Bernshtein et al 1999;Borucki et al 2000). The transmission of PUUV is horizontal (e.g.…”