A POLIOVIRUS-SUSCEPTIBLE TRANSGENIC MOUSE MODEL AS A POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT FOR THE MONKEY NEUROVIRULENCE TEST OF ORAL POLIOVIRUS VACCINE

Two poliovirus-susceptible transgenic mouse (Tg PVR) strains, Tg1 and Tg21, were compared with the monkey test for their sensitivity to neur ovirulence of live oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV). Intracerebral (i.c.) and intraspinal (i.s.) routes of inoculation were investigated to det ermine the most suitable combination of mouse strain and route. Evalua tion of the mouse tests was performed using several indicators; clinic al score and failure time were selected as the most efficient. Tg1 and Tg21 mice inoculated i.s. with type 2, and Tg21 mice inoculated i.s, with type 3 OPV were determined to be the most appropriate systems, wh ereas they are shown not to be suitable for type 1 OPV. The sensitivit y of each of the two mouse models was at least equal to that of the mo nkey test, suggesting that these mouse systems might be considered as a potential replacement for the monkey test of OPV. However, more data are needed to establish regulatory criteria of acceptability for vacc ine lots tested in Tg PVR mice. This is the first study conducted with Tg PVR mice with ail three types of poliovirus vaccine preparations. (C) 1996 The International Association of Biological Standardization