A MACAQUE MODEL FOR HANTAVIRUS INFECTION

Cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were experimentally infected with Puumala virus (strain Hallnas), which causes nephropathia epidem ica in humans in western Europe. During the first week after intratrac heal inoculation, the monkeys exhibited signs of lethargy followed by mild proteinuria and microhematuria. Histopathologic changes during th e first 7 weeks after infection were largely confined to abnormalities in medullary tubular cells of the kidneys, which coincided with the d emonstration of viral antigen and viral RNA. The development of differ ent classes of virus-specific plasma antibodies to the respective vira l antigens were similar to those observed in humans with nephropathia epidemica. This first description of a nonhuman primate model for hant avirus infection shows that the cynomolgus macaque provides a suitable model with which to study the pathogenesis of Puumala virus infection s and to evaluate new diagnostic methods, immunization strategies, and therapies.