Animal Experimental Models for the Study on Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV), a novel phlebovirus, was reported to be endemic to central and northeastern China and is also endemic to South Korea and Japan. SFTS is a tick-borne viral infection with high morbidity and mortality. SFTSV is circulating in nature. Therefore, peoples living in the endemic regions face the risk of SFTSV infection, requiring us to study the virology of SFTSV infection and develop specific treatments and preventive measures against SFTS. There has been advancement in animal experimental models’ development for the study on SFTSV infections. So far, interferon alpha-receptor knockout (IFNAR-KO) mice and signal transducer and activator of transcription 2-knockout hamsters are confirmed to be lethal, when infected with SFTSV at relatively high infectious dose. Furthermore, the efficacy of some drugs including favipiravir and VSV-based SFTSV vaccine candidate in treatment and protection in these animal models, respectively, was evaluated. Further studies are necessary to better understand the characteristics of SFTSV and SFTSV infection and development of treatment and preventive measures against SFTS, necessitating further studies on the animal experimental models’ development.