1053 GESTATIONAL VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS (VZV) INFECTION IN GUINEA PIGS

Abstract

Although uncommon, gestational varicella has potential for severe consequences. Fetal wastage and congenital anomalies have been associated with early gestation maternal infection while progressive neonatal disease has been associated with perinatal infection. To study congenital infection, strain 2 guinea pigs, known to be successful breeders for ≤ 3 pregnancies, were either infected with 4.2 log10 pfu VZV or sham inoculated at 23-57 days gestation. Five infected pregnancies resulted in the spontaneous death of all offspring; one with maternal death, one with in utero resorption, one with a stillborn litter, and two litters with death of all offspring between 4-15 days of age. Three additional pregnancies progressed to full-term delivery. Of 26 total offspring, ll were stillborn, three died in utero, and six died in the neonatal period; three had congenital cataracts. Eight of 29 pups born to sham inoculated animals were stillborn. An additional animal, infected at five weeks gestation, was sacrificed six days after inoculation: VZV was detected by explant co-cultivation or dot blot DNA hybridization from multiple maternal and fetal tissues. Gestational VZV infection in the guinea pig causes fetal wastage, altered intrauterine development, and increased perinatal mortality.