Pathogenicity and Immunogenicity of a Mutagen-Attenuated Rift Valley Fever Virus Immunogen in Pregnant Ewes

Abstract

A mutagenized clone of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV; MV P12) used in inoculation of 3 pregnant ewes was immunogenic, nonpathogenic, and nonabortogenic. In contrast, inoculation of a matched group of 3 pregnant ewes with parent RVFV induced clinical disease and abortions. Ewes given MV P12 delivered healthy lambs that had RVFV antibody titers of < 1:10 at birth, increasing to > or = 1:80 after ingestion of colostrum. Ewes inoculated with parent RVFV developed marked viremia, followed by RVFV antibody titers > or = 1:1,280; ewes inoculated with MV P12 developed low viremia titers and RVFV antibody titers of 1:80 to 1:320. Postpartum challenge exposure of the previously MV P12-inoculated ewes with virulent Zagazig human 501 strain RVFV indicated that the ewes were protected from clinical disease. The RVFV- susceptible female Culex pipiens that fed on the MV P12-inoculated ewes failed to transmit RVFV to hamsters; mosquitoes that fed on the parent RVFV-inoculated ewes became infected and transmitted RVFV to hamsters.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA192901

Entities

People

  • A. J. Johnson
  • G. B. Jennings
  • H. Caplen
  • J. C. Morrill
  • Michael J. Turell

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antibodies
  • Bodily Secretions
  • Contrast
  • Digestive System Processes
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Immunogenicity
  • Inoculation
  • Pregnancy Complications
  • Rift Valley Fever
  • Rift Valleys
  • Valleys
  • Virus Diseases
  • Viruses

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Virology (or Medical Virology).