# Investigation of the Mouse Infection Model for Echovirus 18

## TL;DR

Researchers developed a mouse model to study Echovirus 18, which causes meningitis and encephalitis in children, using two-day-old IFNAR1 knockout mice to observe symptoms and pathology.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel mouse model using IFNAR1 knockout mice to investigate Echovirus 18 pathogenicity and potential antibody protection.

## Key findings

- Two-day-old IFNAR1 knockout mice infected with E18 showed severe symptoms like lethargy and paralysis.
- Skeletal muscle had the highest viral load among infected tissues.
- The model can help study E18's pathogenic mechanisms and antibody protective effects.

## Abstract

Echovirus 18, a member of the B group of enteroviruses, is a significant etiological agent of aseptic meningitis and viral encephalitis in children. In this study, we investigated the pathogenicity of E18 by establishing a mouse infection model after comparing various mouse strains and injection methods. Two-day-old IFNAR1 knockout mice infected with clinical isolates of E18 exhibited symptoms such as lethargy, hind limb paralysis, and even mortality. Similarly, some two-day-old C57BL/6J mice displayed comparable symptoms; however, the incidence was lower than that observed in IFNAR1 knockout mice. No similar symptoms were noted in any Balb/c mice. Significant pathological changes were observed in skeletal muscle, brain tissue, and other organs of symptomatic mice; among these tissues, skeletal muscle demonstrated the highest viral load. The established infection model using two-day-old IFNAR1 knockout mice provides valuable insights into further investigations regarding its pathological injury mechanisms as well as the protective effects conferred by antibodies.