Ilheus (ILHV) and Rocio (ROCV) are flaviviruses (family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus) of great importance to public health in Brazil because these viruses are associated to encephalitis cases in humans. Recent studies have reported persistence of experimental infections (in vivo and in vitro) and clinical reports. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo the possible occurrence of persistent infection caused by ILHV and ROCV using young golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) as experimental model. Hamsters were inoculated intraperitoneally with a suspension of brains of newborn mice infected with titers of 9.8 and 9.6 DL50/ 0.02 mL of ROCV and ILHV respectively, and at pre-determined intervals, they were anesthetized and sacrificed for collection of blood samples, serum and urine and organ fragments during four months (120 days) post-inoculation (p.i.). Viral quantification was calculated in samples of brain, liver and blood, using the technique of Real Time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). All collected specimens were inoculated into VERO cells for confirmation of viral replication; and viral antigens in the cell cultures were detected by indirect immunofluorescence test; the levels of antibodies were determined by hemagglutination-inhibition test. Histopathological examination by hematoxylin-eosin and detection of viral antigens by imunohistochemistry were assayed in viscera and central nervous tissue samples collected during the kinetics. The study showed that young golden hamsters are good experimental model for persistent infection by the flaviviruses ILHV and ROCV. Both viruses induced strong immune response, although the levels of antibodies to ILHV were greater than for ROCV. The ROCV has demonstrated to be more pathogenic in these animals, suggesting higher ability to cause neuronal invasiveness than ILHV. Infected viscera
samples inoculated in VERO cells resulted in growth of both viruses from all infected organ, blood, serum and urine samples and were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Regarding persistence of infection, ROCV was detected in the brain, liver and blood by qRT-PCR, for three months p.i., while ILHV persistence was observed only in the brain for 30 days p.i. by qRT-PCR. The ROCV was able to produce histopathological changes, and immuno-labeled cells expressing viral antigens in liver, kidney, lung and brain samples during four month were confirmed by imunohistochemistry. To the ILHV, the histopathological changes and expression of viral antigens in samples from the liver, kidney and lung were only confirmed up to 30 days p.i., but the brain was positive for four months p.i.; The findings obtained in this study showed that both viruses have capacity to cause persistent infection in hamsters intraperitoneally infected, studies additional are needed to determine the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of ILHV and ROCV persistent infections.
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