【Disease Animal Model】-Establishment of Tree Shrew Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Model

  Coxsackie virus A16 (CA16) is generally considered to be one of the main pathogens of human hand, foot and mouth disease. The clinical manifestations of hand, foot and mouth disease include small vesicles on the hands, feet and mouth, as well as severe inflammatory central nervous system damage in young children.

  In this study, an experimental CA16 infection tree sh was used to study the cause of CA16. Experimental animals: 15 healthy female trees sh (80 + 10 g, 2 months old) were randomly divided into an infection group (n = 12) and a simulated infection control group (n = 3). For all experimental procedures, the Yunnan Laboratory Animal Secretariat has approved the breeding of all animals in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Laboratory Animal Committee of the Institute of Biomedicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. All individuals passed the neutralization test, indicating the absence of CA16 antibodies.

  Experimental method: Tupai of the experimental group was infected with CA16 (104.5CCID50) from the respiratory tract through nasal drops, and the control group was simulated with saline spray, which is a non-infectious negative control. Two days after infection, Tupai was monitored every day and the rectal temperature was measured with a digital thermometer (MCBOMR, OMRON). At the same time, EDTA-coated capillary venous blood samples were collected for routine biological testing of viral load. (Veterinarian) Seed Blood System, Hemavet950FS, Drew Technology Co., Ltd. performed etiological and histopathological examinations of all tissues and organs on the fourth, seventh, tenth and fourteenth days after killing the tree sh.

  The results showed that the CA16-infected tree sh increased body temperature, blood neutrophil and monocyte rate 4-7 days after sh infection. The dynamic distribution of CA16 in various tissues and feces can be achieved at each stage of infection. Not only that, but pathological changes in the central nervous system and other organs can also be observed. This study shows that the tree sh can be used as an excellent animal model for the study of CA16 infection.