Studies to Develop an Experiment Animal Model System for the Laboratory Investigation of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus Infections

Abstract

Research was conducted to determine the suitability of the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) as a laboratory animal model for epidemiological and immunological studies on Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus infections. The studies were made using the live, attenuated VEE (Strain TC-83) and the live, attenuated western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE) (Clone 15) vaccine viruses. Both viruses elicited measurable hemagglutination-inhibition and neutralizing antibody responses in the hamsters. VEE antibodies were shown to be passively transferred from immune hamsters to their offspring. The incidence of cannibalism was unusually high among females vaccinated with VEE virus; suggesting a mental disturbance. Based on these studies it was concluded that the hamster was unsuitable as a model for investigations on passive transfer of maternal antibodies to VEE virus.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 26, 1973
Accession Number
AD0771365

Entities

People

  • James L. Hardy

Organizations

  • University of California, Berkeley

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Arbovirus Infections
  • Blood
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Encephalitis
  • Equine Encephalitis
  • Immunization
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Public Health
  • Rodents
  • Tissue Fluids
  • United States
  • Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis
  • Viruses

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Theoretical Analysis.
  • Virology (or Medical Virology).

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Cancer Biotech