Browsing by Author "Ritter, Jana M."

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    Determining the role of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in the death of domestic pets: 10 cases (2020-2021)
    Carpenter, Ann; Ghai, Ria R.; Gary, Joy; Ritter, Jana M.; Carvallo, Francisco R.; Diel, Diego G.; Martins, Mathias; Murphy, Julia; Schroeder, Betsy A.; Brightbill, Kevin; Tewari, Deepanker; Boger, Lore; Gabel, Julie; Cobb, Robert; Hennebelle, Janemarie; Stanton, James B.; McCullough, Kathryn; Mosley, Yung-Yi C.; Naikare, Hemant K.; Radcliffe, Rachel; Parr, Boyd; Balsamo, Gary; Robbins, Brent; Smith, David; Slavinski, Sally; Williams, Carl; Meckes, Doug; Jones, Dee; Frazier, Tony; Steury, Kelley; Rooney, Jane; Torchetti, Mia; Wendling, Natalie; Currie, Dustin; Behravesh, Casey Barton; Wallace, Ryan M. (2021-11-01)
    OBJECTIVE To establish a pathoepidemiological model to evaluate the role of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first 10 companion animals that died while infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the US. ANIMALS 10 cats and dogs that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and died or were euthanized in the US between March 2020 and January 2021. PROCEDURES A standardized algorithm was developed to direct case investigations, determine the necessity of certain diagnostic procedures, and evaluate the role, if any, that SARS-CoV-2 infection played in the animals' course of disease and death. Using clinical and diagnostic information collected by state animal health officials, state public health veterinarians, and other state and local partners, this algorithm was applied to each animal case. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2 was an incidental finding in 8 animals, was suspected to have contributed to the severity of clinical signs leading to euthanasia in 1 dog, and was the primary reason for death for 1 cat. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This report provides the global community with a standardized process for directing case investigations, determining the necessity of certain diagnostic procedures, and determining the clinical significance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in animals with fatal outcomes and provides evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can, in rare circumstances, cause or contribute to death in pets.
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    Duration of seminal Zika viral RNA shedding in immunocompetent mice inoculated with Asian and African genotype viruses
    McDonald, Erin M.; Duggal, Nisha K.; Delorey, Mark J.; Oksanish, James; Ritter, Jana M.; Brault, Aaron C. (Elsevier, 2019-06-20)
    Prior to the emergence of Asian genotype Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Western hemisphere, sexual transmission in humans was documented. Sexual transmission by African genotype ZIKVs has not been assessed in laboratory animal models, due to rapid and high mortality rates of immunodeficient mice following inoculation. To overcome these limitations, immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice were used to longitudinally assess Asian and African genotype ZIKV sexual transmission potential. Furthermore, to determine if enhanced pathogenesis of African genotype ZIKVs is due to structural determinants, PRVABC59 prM/E was replaced with African MR766 prM/E (chimeric ZIKV). The African genotype and chimeric ZIKV elicited greater pathogenic effects in the male reproductive tract and generated higher viremias. Yet, the duration, magnitude and efficiency of seminal shedding of infectious virus and viral RNA were similar between chimeric-, African and Asian genotype ZIKVinoculated mice. These data show that increased male reproductive tract pathology does not increase sexual transmission potential.
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    Mutations present in a low-passage Zika virus isolate result in attenuated pathogenesis in mice
    Duggal, Nisha K.; McDonald, Erin M.; Weger-Lucarelli, James; Hawks, Seth A.; Ritter, Jana M.; Romo, Hannah; Ebel, Gregory D.; Brault, Aaron C. (2019-04)
    Zika virus (ZIKV) infection can result in neurological disorders including Congenital Zika Syndrome in infants exposed to the virus in utero. Pregnant women can be infected by mosquito bite as well as by sexual transmission from infected men. Herein, the variants of ZIKV within the male reproductive tract and ejaculates were assessed in inoculated mice. We identified two non-synonymous variants at positions E-V330L and NS1-W98G. These variants were also present in the passage three PRVABC59 isolate and infectious clone relative to the patient serum PRVABC59 sequence. In subsequent studies, ZIKV E-330L was less pathogenic in mice than ZIKV E-330V as evident by increased average survival times. In Vero cells, ZIKV E-330L/NS1-98G outcompeted ZIKV E-330V/NS1-98W within 3 passages. These results suggest that the E-330L/NS1-98G variants are attenuating in mice and were enriched during cell culture passaging. Cell culture propagation of ZIKV could significantly affect animal model development and vaccine efficacy studies.