Short report: Potential for autoimmune pathogenesis of rift valley fever virus retinitis

Shoshana Newman-Gerhardt, Samuel Muiruri, Eric Muchiri, Clarence J. Peters, John Morrill, Alexander H. Lucas, Charles H. King, James Kazura, Angelle Desiree LaBeaud

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a significant threat to human health because it can progress to retinitis, encephalitis, and hemorrhagic fever. The timing of onset of Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) retinitis suggests an autoimmune origin. To determine whether RVFV retinitis is associated with increased levels of IgG against retinal tissue, we measured and compared levels of IgG against healthy human eye tissue by immunohistochemical analysis. We found that serum samples from RVFV-exposed Kenyans with retinitis (n = 8) were slightly more likely to have antibodies against retinal tissue than control populations, but the correlation was not statistically significant. Further investigation into the possible immune pathogenesis of RVFV retinitis could lead to improved therapies to prevent or treat this severe complication.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)495-497
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume89
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

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