First isolation, in-vivo and genomic characterization of zoonotic variegated squirrel Bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1) isolates.

ABSTRACT: The variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV-1), a member of the family Bornaviridae, was discovered in 2015 in a series of lethal human infections. Screening approaches revealed kept exotic squirrels as the putative source of infection. Infectious virus was successfully isolated by co-cultivation of infected primary squirrel cells with permanent cell lines. For in vivo characterization, neonatal and adult Lewis rats were inoculated either intracranially, intranasally or subcutaneously. After 4.5 months, three out of fifteen neonatal intracranially inoculated rats were VSBV-1 genome positive in the central nervous system without showing clinical signs. Pathohistological examination revealed a non-purulent encephalitis. While infection of immune incompetent rats (neonatal) using

SUBMITTER: Schlottau K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7717607 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature