Animal Model of @entity1274 Associated with XXXX Infection.

@entity1 @entity697 @entity2167 @entity19 @entity26210 @entity26211 @entity1274 @entity393
Approximately one-third of @entity26211 (LASV)-infected @entity1 develop @entity1274 ( @entity1274 ) in the late stages of @entity697 or in early convalescence. With 500,000 annual cases of @entity26210 ( @entity26210 ), LASV is a major cause of @entity393 in regions of West Africa where @entity26210 is endemic. To date, no animal models exist that depict the @entity1 pathology of @entity26210 with associated @entity393 . Here, we aimed to develop an animal model to study LASV-induced @entity393 using @entity1 isolates from a 2012 Sierra Leone outbreak. We have recently established a @entity19 model for @entity26210 that closely mimics many features of @entity1 disease. In this model, LASV isolated from a lethal @entity1 case was highly virulent, while the virus isolated from a nonlethal case elicited mostly mild disease with moderate mortality. More importantly, both viruses were able to induce @entity1274 in surviving animals. However, utilization of the nonlethal, @entity1 LASV isolate allowed us to consistently produce large numbers of survivors with @entity393 . Surviving @entity19 developed permanent @entity393 associated with mild damage to the cochlear hair cells and, strikingly, significant degeneration of the @entity2167 . Therefore, the pathological changes in the inner ear of the @entity19 with @entity1274 supported the phenotypic loss of hearing and provided further insights into the mechanistic cause of @entity26210 -associated @entity393 . IMPORTANCE: @entity1274 is a major complication for @entity26210 survivors. The development of a small-animal model of LASV infection that replicates @entity393 and the clinical and pathological features of @entity26210 will significantly increase knowledge of pathogenesis and vaccine studies. In addition, such a model will permit detailed characterization of the @entity393 mechanism and allow for the development of appropriate diagnostic approaches and medical care for @entity26210 @entity1 with @entity393 .
