Epstein-Barr Virus (HHV-4) Inoculation to Rabbits by Intranasal and Oral Routes Results in Subacute and/or Persistent Infection Dissimilar to Human Disease

• Published in: Intervirology Vol. 57; no. 5; pp. 254 - 269
• Main Authors: Rajčáni, Julius, Szenthe, Kalman, Ďurmanová, Vladimira, Tóth, Agnes, Ásványi, Balazs, Pitlik, Ervin, Stipkovits, Laszlo, Szathmary, Susan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Disease Models, Animal; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - pathology; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - virology; Herpesvirus 4, Human - growth & development; Herpesvirus 4, Human - immunology; Human herpesvirus 4; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infectious Mononucleosis - pathology; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - pathology; Original Paper; Rabbits; Rabbit model; Infection markers; Epstein-Barr virus
• ISSN: 0300-5526; 1423-0100
• DOI: 10.1159/000360223

Objective: We report the infection of New Zealand white rabbits with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Methods: EBV prepared in B95-8 (producer) cells was inoculated to rabbits by combined intranasal and oral routes. Blood and white blood cell (WBC) samples were taken before infection, then on days 8, 28 and 98 post-infection (p.i.). Results: Administration of either 3 × 10 8 (group A, 11 rabbits) or 1 × 10 9 (group B, 10 rabbits) EBV DNA copies per animal induced subacute and/or persistent infection. The IgG antibodies in plasma were detected by ELISA as well as by immunoblot (IB). The IB bands showed mainly antibodies to the BZRF1/Zta transactivation polypeptide (69.2%), the p54 early protein (53.4%) and to the p23 capsid protein (35.8%). No anti-EBNA1 antibody was detected throughout. Viral DNA could be detected by PCR in WBCs and/or spleen of 7 out of 21 infected rabbits (30%), while 60-80% of them showed serologic response. The transiently present EBV DNA was accompanied by LMP1 antigen. Conclusions: Rabbits developed persistent EBV infection in the absence of EBNA1 antibodies and by the lack of typical infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome. The absence of EBNA1 antibody may reflect the lack of EBNA1 in B cells of EBV-inoculated rabbits.