TY - JOUR
T1 - The cotton rat provides a novel model to study genital herpes infection and to evaluate preventive strategies
AU - Yim, Kevin C.
AU - Carroll, Clifford J.
AU - Tuyama, Ana
AU - Cheshenko, Natalia
AU - Carlucci, Maria Josefina
AU - Porter, David D.
AU - Prince, Gregory A.
AU - Herold, Betsy C.
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - Prevention of genital herpes and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) is a critical health priority because of the overwhelming impact on women and infants and the epidemiological association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. Small animal models are essential for evaluating strategies for prevention or treatment of STI. Neither the marine nor the guinea pig model of genital herpes fully recapitulates human disease. We demonstrate that herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) readily infects inbred cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). Consistent infection does not require pretreatment with medroxyprogesterone, and primary disease resembles that observed in humans. The animals develop genital lesions and fully recover. During primary infection, viral DNA is also detected in liver, lungs, brain, and kidneys. Clinical self-limited recurrences occur spontaneously but may also be induced by dexamethasone. Pretreatment of cotton rats with PRO 2000 gel, a candidate vaginal microbicide being evaluated in clinical trials to prevent HSV and HIV, protects cotton rats from HSV. Together, these studies suggest that the cotton rat may provide an excellent model to study genital herpes and to evaluate preventive strategies.
AB - Prevention of genital herpes and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) is a critical health priority because of the overwhelming impact on women and infants and the epidemiological association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. Small animal models are essential for evaluating strategies for prevention or treatment of STI. Neither the marine nor the guinea pig model of genital herpes fully recapitulates human disease. We demonstrate that herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) readily infects inbred cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). Consistent infection does not require pretreatment with medroxyprogesterone, and primary disease resembles that observed in humans. The animals develop genital lesions and fully recover. During primary infection, viral DNA is also detected in liver, lungs, brain, and kidneys. Clinical self-limited recurrences occur spontaneously but may also be induced by dexamethasone. Pretreatment of cotton rats with PRO 2000 gel, a candidate vaginal microbicide being evaluated in clinical trials to prevent HSV and HIV, protects cotton rats from HSV. Together, these studies suggest that the cotton rat may provide an excellent model to study genital herpes and to evaluate preventive strategies.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=27744537436&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1128/JVI.79.23.14632-14639.2005
DO - 10.1128/JVI.79.23.14632-14639.2005
M3 - Article
C2 - 16282463
AN - SCOPUS:27744537436
SN - 0022-538X
VL - 79
SP - 14632
EP - 14639
JO - Journal of virology
JF - Journal of virology
IS - 23
ER -
