Investigating the potential role of wildlife as reservoirs of Chikungunya virus: experimental infections and field studies
| dc.contributor.author | Blizzard, Emily Lauren, author | |
| dc.contributor.author | Bowen, Richard A., advisor | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pabilonia, Kristy, committee member | |
| dc.contributor.author | Schountz, Tony, committee member | |
| dc.contributor.author | Johnston, Matthew, committee member | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2017-06-09T15:41:08Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2017-06-09T15:41:08Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2017 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne human pathogen endemic to Africa and Asia and the etiologic agent of chikungunya fever (CHIKF), a severe debilitating and often chronic arthralgic disease. The recent introduction of CHIKV into the Western Hemisphere has led to an increased initiative to investigate the role that mammals other than non-human primates might play during CHIKV sylvatic transmission cycles. The focus of the studies presented in this dissertation was to investigate the potential of several common rodent species to serve as reservoir and/or amplifying hosts for CHIKV during outbreaks in the Americas. Nine rodent species were subcutaneously inoculated with one of two strains of chikungunya virus during initial experimental infections. Of these, 7 out of 9 species became infected with CHIKV. Groundhogs (Marmota monax) were the mostly likely candidate to serve as a reservoir host in North America based on magnitude of viremia. All groundhogs included in this study developed significant viremias ranging from 4.0E2 to 1.6E6 and lasting 2-4 days post infection. The viral loads observed were sufficient to infect Ae. spp mosquitoes indicating that these animals are capable of serving as reservoir hosts. Additionally, groundhogs undergo periods of hibernation and further research is need to determine if these animals are capable of overwintering CHIKV in the U.S. Based on the findings from the CHIKV experimental infections, Cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), were evaluated as a laboratory animal model to study CHIKV pathogenesis. Thirteen of seventeen cotton rats developed a low-titer viremia, but no clinical or post-mortem pathological findings were observed. Mosquitoes fed on viremic cotton rats failed to become infected, suggesting that this species is not likely to play a role in CHIKV transmission cycles. Field studies investigating the likelihood of three mammals and eight reptilian and amphibian species were conducted in select regions of Cambodia and the Grand Cayman islands. Individuals from nine of eleven species examined had low levels of detectable CHIKV antibodies, suggesting that they may have been infected with CHIKV. The results of these studies provide some insight into the potential role of wildlife, mainly rodents, in CHIKV transmission cycles. | |
| dc.format.medium | born digital | |
| dc.format.medium | doctoral dissertations | |
| dc.identifier | Blizzard_colostate_0053A_14073.pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10217/181350 | |
| dc.language | English | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher | Colorado State University. Libraries | |
| dc.relation.ispartof | 2000-2019 | |
| dc.rights | Copyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright. | |
| dc.subject | Chikungunya virus | |
| dc.subject | reservoir host | |
| dc.subject | wildlife | |
| dc.subject | epizootic reservoir | |
| dc.subject | amplifying host | |
| dc.subject | sylvatic transmission | |
| dc.title | Investigating the potential role of wildlife as reservoirs of Chikungunya virus: experimental infections and field studies | |
| dc.type | Text | |
| dcterms.rights.dpla | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Colorado State University | |
| thesis.degree.level | Doctoral | |
| thesis.degree.name | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
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