biostudies-literatureSuen WWAustralian Postgraduate AwardUQ Postdoctoral Research FellowshipAustralian Research Council Linkage Project grantUniversity of Queensland Graduate School International Travel AwardDr. William Peter Richards Trust Bequest for Veterinary Pathology Research529-58https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4584271biostudies-literatureUnknown4(3)The economic impact of non-lethal human and equine West Nile virus (WNV) disease is substantial, since it is the most common presentation of the infection. Experimental infection with virulent WNV strains in the mouse and hamster models frequently results in severe neural infection and moderate to high mortality, both of which are not representative features of most human and equine infections. We have established a rabbit model for investigating pathogenesis and immune response of non-lethal WNV infection. Two species of rabbits, New Zealand White (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and North American cottontail (Sylvilagus sp.), were experimentally infected with virulent WNV and Murray Valley encephalitis virus strains. Infected rabbits exhibited a consistently resistant phenotype, with evidence of Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)Experimental West Nile Virus Infection in Rabbits: An Alternative Model for Studying Induction of Disease and Virus Control.PMC4584271607786LP120100686Uddin MJProw NABielefeldt-Ohmann HAdney DRWang WSuen WWBrown VHall RABroad NBowen RAfalseExperimental West Nile Virus Infection in Rabbits: An Alternative Model for Studying Induction of Disease and Virus Control.The economic impact of non-lethal human and equine West Nile virus (WNV) disease is substantial, since it is the most common presentation of the infection. Experimental infection with virulent WNV strains in the mouse and hamster models frequently results in severe neural infection and moderate to high mortality, both of which are not representative features of most human and equine infections. We have established a rabbit model for investigating pathogenesis and immune response of non-lethal WNV infection. Two species of rabbits, New Zealand White (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and North American cottontail (Sylvilagus sp.), were experimentally infected with virulent WNV and Murray Valley encephalitis virus strains. Infected rabbits exhibited a consistently resistant phenotype, with evidence of 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Jul2026-05-03T05:37:53.121Z2019-03-27T01:59:01ZS-EPMC45842712618432610.3390/pathogens4030529