Viruses, Vol. 12, Pages 291: Experimental Infection of Mid-Gestation Pregnant Female and Intact Male Sheep with Zika Virus

Viruses, Vol. 12, Pages 291: Experimental Infection of Mid-Gestation Pregnant Female and Intact Male Sheep with Zika Virus Viruses doi: 10.3390/v12030291 Authors: Erika R. Schwarz Lilian J. Oliveira Francesco Bonfante Ruiyu Pu Malgorzata A. Pozor N. James Maclachlan Sarah Beachboard Kelli L. Barr Maureen T. Long Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus that causes birth defects, persistent male infection, and sexual transmission in humans. The purpose of this study was to continue the development of an ovine ZIKV infection model; thus, two experiments were undertaken. In the first experiment, we built on previous pregnant sheep experiments by developing a mid-gestation model of ZIKV infection. Four pregnant sheep were challenged with ZIKV at 57–64 days gestation; two animals served as controls. After 13–15 days (corresponding with 70–79 days of gestation), one control and two infected animals were euthanized; the remaining animals were euthanized at 20–22 days post-infection (corresponding with 77–86 days of gestation). In the second experiment, six sexually mature, intact, male sheep were challenged with ZIKV and two animals served as controls. Infected animals were serially euthanized on days 2–6 and day 9 post-infection with the goal of isolating ZIKV from the male reproductive tract. In the mid-gestation study, virus was detected in maternal placenta and spleen, and in fet...
Source: Viruses - Category: Virology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research