The Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)—Small Animal Model for Hepacivirus Infection

Abstract

Many people worldwide suffer from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which is frequently persistent. The lack of efficient vaccines against HCV and the unavailability of or limited compliance with existing antiviral therapies is problematic for health care systems worldwide. Improved small animal models would support further hepacivirus research, including development of vaccines and novel antivirals. The recent discovery of several mammalian hepaciviruses may facilitate such research. In this study, we demonstrated that bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) were susceptible to bank vole-associated Hepacivirus F and Hepacivirus J strains, based on the detection of hepaciviral RNA in 52 of 55 experimentally inoculated voles. In contrast, interferon α/β receptor deficient C57/Bl6 mice were resistant to infection with both bank vole hepaciviruses (BvHVs). The highest viral genome loads in infected voles were detected in the liver, and viral RNA was visualized by in situ hybridization in hepatocytes, confirming a marked hepatotropism. Furthermore, liver lesions in infected voles resembled those of HCV infection in humans. In conclusion, infection with both BvHVs in their natural hosts shares striking similarities to HCV infection in humans and may represent promising small animal models for this important human disease.

Human antibody recognizing a quaternary epitope in the Puumala virus glycoprotein provides broad protection against orthohantaviruses

“…The neutralizing potential of human mAbs against PUUV/Suo challenge in vivo was investigated in an established experimental PUUV reservoir host model system ( 28 ). The bank vole colony at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany was established from six breeding pairs as founder animals obtained from an existing breeding colony at the Federal Environment Agency of Germany ( 63 ). The initially introduced bank voles were tested for pathogens according to recommendation by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) using C57/Bl6 mice as sentinels ( 64 ).…”

Identification of a Novel Hepacivirus in Southeast Asian Shrew (Crocidura fuliginosa) from Yunnan Province, China

“…Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and tree shrew (Tupaia telangeri) are known to have clinical symptoms similar to humans after inoculation with HCV [26,27]. The course and pathological signs experienced by bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) inoculated with Hepacivirus myodae and glareoli Hepacivirus are similar to those of humans infected with HCV [28]. However, chimpanzees are relatively rare and expensive subjects, and studying the pathogenesis of HCV replication in chimpanzees may take 10 to 20 years.…”

Identification of a Novel Hepacivirus in White - tipped Shrew (Crocidura dracula) from Yunnan, China

“…Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and tree Shrews (Tupaia telangeri) are so far known to have clinical symptoms similar to humans after inoculating HCV [21,22]. And the course and pathological signs of Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) inoculated with Hepacivirus F and Hepacivirus J were similar to those of human infected with HCV [23]. But chimpanzees are relatively rare and expensive subjects and studying the pathogenesis of HCV replication in chimpanzees may take 10 to 20 years.…”