The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model

ABSTRACTStudies in mice showed that African Zika virus (ZIKV) strains cause more damage in embryos. These studies, however, were limited to the mouse-adapted African MR766 strain or infection at early gestation. Here, we compared infection of Asian and African strains in the fetal pig model at midge...

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Main Authors: Daniel Udenze, Ivan Trus, Nathalie Berube, Volker Gerdts, Uladzimir Karniychuk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2019-01-01
Series:Emerging Microbes and Infections
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2019.1644967
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author Daniel Udenze
Ivan Trus
Nathalie Berube
Volker Gerdts
Uladzimir Karniychuk
author_facet Daniel Udenze
Ivan Trus
Nathalie Berube
Volker Gerdts
Uladzimir Karniychuk
author_sort Daniel Udenze
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACTStudies in mice showed that African Zika virus (ZIKV) strains cause more damage in embryos. These studies, however, were limited to the mouse-adapted African MR766 strain or infection at early gestation. Here, we compared infection of Asian and African strains in the fetal pig model at midgestation. Both strains caused fetal infection. ZIKV was detected in placenta, amniotic membrane, amniotic fluid, fetal blood, and brain. The African strain produced more vigorous in utero infection as represented by more efficient virus transmission between siblings, and higher viral loads in fetal organs and membranes. Infection with both strains was associated with reduced fetal brain weight and increased number of placental CD163-positive cells, as well as elevated in utero interferon alpha and cortisol levels. This is the first large animal model study which demonstrated that African strain of ZIKV, with no passage history in experimental animals, can cause persistent infection in fetuses and fetal membranes at midgestation. Our studies also suggest that similar to Asian strains, ZIKV of African lineage might cause silent pathology which is difficult to identify in deceptively healthy fetuses. The findings emphasize the need for further studies to highlight the impact of ZIKV heterogeneity on infection outcomes during pregnancy.
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spelling doaj.art-de203b968a724a908af183e2e3929fe02023-12-19T16:09:58ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEmerging Microbes and Infections2222-17512019-01-01811098110710.1080/22221751.2019.1644967The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission modelDaniel Udenze0Ivan Trus1Nathalie Berube2Volker Gerdts3Uladzimir Karniychuk4Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaVaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaVaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaVaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaVaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaABSTRACTStudies in mice showed that African Zika virus (ZIKV) strains cause more damage in embryos. These studies, however, were limited to the mouse-adapted African MR766 strain or infection at early gestation. Here, we compared infection of Asian and African strains in the fetal pig model at midgestation. Both strains caused fetal infection. ZIKV was detected in placenta, amniotic membrane, amniotic fluid, fetal blood, and brain. The African strain produced more vigorous in utero infection as represented by more efficient virus transmission between siblings, and higher viral loads in fetal organs and membranes. Infection with both strains was associated with reduced fetal brain weight and increased number of placental CD163-positive cells, as well as elevated in utero interferon alpha and cortisol levels. This is the first large animal model study which demonstrated that African strain of ZIKV, with no passage history in experimental animals, can cause persistent infection in fetuses and fetal membranes at midgestation. Our studies also suggest that similar to Asian strains, ZIKV of African lineage might cause silent pathology which is difficult to identify in deceptively healthy fetuses. The findings emphasize the need for further studies to highlight the impact of ZIKV heterogeneity on infection outcomes during pregnancy.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2019.1644967Zika virusin utero infectionfetuspigAfrican strainAsian strain
spellingShingle Daniel Udenze
Ivan Trus
Nathalie Berube
Volker Gerdts
Uladzimir Karniychuk
The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model
Emerging Microbes and Infections
Zika virus
in utero infection
fetus
pig
African strain
Asian strain
title The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model
title_full The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model
title_fullStr The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model
title_full_unstemmed The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model
title_short The African strain of Zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than Asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model
title_sort african strain of zika virus causes more severe in utero infection than asian strain in a porcine fetal transmission model
topic Zika virus
in utero infection
fetus
pig
African strain
Asian strain
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2019.1644967
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