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Persistence of viral RNA in the brain of offspring to mice infected with influenza A/WSN/33 virus during pregnancy

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Abstract

Epidemiological studies have indicated an association between influenza A virus infections during fetal life and neuropsychiatric diseases. To study the potential for influenza A virus infections to cause nervous system dysfunctions, we describe a mouse model using intranasal instillation of the mouse neuroadapted influenza A/WSN/33 strain in pregnant mice. Viral RNA and nucleoprotein were detected in fetal brains and the viral RNA persisted for at least 90 days of postnatal life. We have, thus, obtained evidence for transplacental passage of influenza virus in mice and the persistence of viral components in the brains of these animals into young adulthood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius väg 8, S-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    Fredrik Aronsson, Charlotta Lannebo, Martin Paucar, Johan Brask, Krister Kristensson & Håkan Karlsson

Authors
  1. Fredrik Aronsson
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  2. Charlotta Lannebo
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  3. Martin Paucar
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  4. Johan Brask
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  5. Krister Kristensson
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  6. Håkan Karlsson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Håkan Karlsson.

Additional information

This study was supported by grants from the Stanley Foundation Research Awards Program, the Swedish Research Council (04480) and Harald Jeansson Foundation. F Aronsson is the recipient of a scholarship from the “Network for Inflammation Research” funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.

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Aronsson, F., Lannebo, C., Paucar, M. et al. Persistence of viral RNA in the brain of offspring to mice infected with influenza A/WSN/33 virus during pregnancy. Journal of NeuroVirology 8, 353–357 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1080/13550280290100480

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13550280290100480

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