Rift Valley Fever Virus Infects the Posterior Segment of the Eye and Induces Inflammation in a Rat Model of Ocular Disease.

ABSTRACT: People infected with the mosquito-borne Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) can suffer from eye-related problems resulting in ongoing vision issues or even permanent blindness. Despite ocular disease being the most frequently reported severe outcome, it is vastly understudied compared to other disease outcomes caused by RVFV. Ocular manifestations of RVFV include blurred vision, uveitis, and retinitis. When an infected individual develops macular or paramacular lesions, there is a 50% chance of permanent vision loss in one or both eyes. The cause of blinding ocular pathology remains unknown in part due to the lack of a tractable animal model. Using 3 relevant exposure routes, both subcutaneous (SC) and aerosol inoculation of Sprague Dawley rats led to RVFV infection of the eye. Surprisingly, di

SUBMITTER: Schwarz MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9599513 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature