Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » ABADRU » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #323770
Title: Development of a sheep challenge model for Rift Valley fever

Author
item FABURAY, BONTO - Kansas State University
item Gaudreault, Natasha
item QIFANG, LIU - Kansas State University
item DAVIS, SALLY - Kansas State University
item SHIVANNA, VINAY - Kansas State University
item McVey, David
item Ruder, Mark
item Drolet, Barbara
item Wilson, William
item RICHT, JUERGEN - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Virology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2015
Publication Date: 1/1/2016
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62680
Citation: Faburay, B., Gaudreault, N.N., Qifang, L., Davis, S.A., Shivanna, V., McVey, D.S., Ruder, M.G., Drolet, B.S., Wilson, W.C., Richt, J.A. 2016. Development of a sheep challenge model for Rift Valley fever. Virology. 489:128-140. doi:10.1016/j.virol.2015.12.003.

Interpretive Summary: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a disease that causes severe epizootic disease in ruminants and humans. Outbreaks are characterized by mass abortion and high mortality rates in younger animals and hemorrhagic disease in humans. The development of a reliable challenge model is an important prerequisite for evaluation of existing and novel vaccines. A study aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of RVF virus infection in US sheep using two genetically different wild type strains of the virus was performed. The two strains produced different pathology that was further investigated by viral genome sequencing. The study demonstrates a development of a good and virulent challenge model for RVF for vaccine evaluation.

Technical Abstract: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that causes severe epizootic disease in ruminants, characterized by mass abortion and high mortality rates in younger animals. The development of a reliable challenge model is an important prerequisite for evaluation of existing and novel vaccines. A study aimed at understanding the pathogenesis of RVF virus infection in US sheep using two genetically different wild type strains of the virus (SA01-1322 and Kenya-128B-15) was performed. A group of sheep was inoculated with both strains and all infected sheep manifested early-onset viremia accompanied by a transient increase in temperatures. The Kenya-128B-15 strain manifested higher virulence compared to SA01-1322 by inducing more severe liver damage, and longer and higher viremia. Genome sequence analysis revealed sequence variations between the two isolates, which potentially could account for the observed phenotypic differences. We conclude that Kenya-128B-15 sheep infection represents a good and virulent challenge model for RVF.