Coxiella burnetii isolates cause genogroup-specific virulence in mouse and guinea pig models of acute Q fever

K.E. Russell-Lodrigue, M. Andoh, M.W.J. Poels, H.R. Shive, B.R. Weeks, G.Q. Zhang, C. Tersteeg, T. Masegi, A. Hotta, T. Yamaguchi, H. Fukushima, K. Hirai, D.N. McMurray, J.E. Samuel

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    Abstract

    Q fever is a zoonotic disease of worldwide significance caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Humans with Q fever may experience an acute flu-like illness and pneumonia and/or chronic hepatitis or endocarditis. Various markers demonstrate significant phylogenetic separation between and clustering among isolates from acute and chronic human disease. The clinical and pathological responses to infection with phase I C. burnetii isolates from the following four genomic groups were evaluated in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice and in guinea pig infection models: group I (Nine Mile, African, and Ohio), group IV (Priscilla and P), group V (G and S), and group VI (Dugway). Isolates from all of the groups produced disease in the SCID mouse model, and genogroup-consistent trends were noted in cytokine production in response to infection in the immunocompetent-mouse model. Guinea pigs developed severe acute disease when aerosol challenged with group I isolates, mild to moderate acute disease in response to group V isolates, and no acute disease when infected with group IV and VI isolates. C. burnetii isolates have a range of disease potentials; isolates within the same genomic group cause similar pathological responses, and there is a clear distinction in strain virulence between these genomic groups.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)5640-5650
    JournalInfection and immunity
    Volume77
    Issue number12
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

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