Vertebrate Host Susceptibility to Heartland Virus

Authors

Angela M. Bosco-Lauth, Colorado State University
Amanda E. Calvert, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
J. Jeffrey Root, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
Tom Gidlewski, US Department of AgricultureFollow
Brian H. Bird, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Richard A. Bowen, Colorado State University
Atis Muehlenbachs, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sherif R. Zaki, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Aaron C. Brault, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

Emerging Infectious Diseases, www.cdc.gov/eid, Vol. 22, No. 12, December 2016

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Heartland virus (HRTV) is a recently described phlebovirus initially isolated in 2009 from 2 humans who had leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Serologic assessment of domestic and wild animal populations near the residence of 1 of these persons showed high exposure rates to raccoons, white-tailed deer, and horses. To our knowledge, no laboratory-based assessments of viremic potential of animals infected with HRTV have been performed. We experimentally inoculated several vertebrates (raccoons, goats, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, C57BL/6 mice, and interferon-α/β/γ receptor–deficient [Ag129]) mice with this virus. All animals showed immune responses against HRTV after primary or secondary exposure. However, neutralizing antibody responses were limited. Only Ag129 mice showed detectable viremia and associated illness and death, which were dose dependent. Ag129 mice also showed development of mean peak viral antibody titers >8 log10 PFU/mL, hemorrhagic hepatic lesions, splenomegaly, and large amounts of HRTV antigen in mononuclear cells and hematopoietic cells in the spleen.