Pathogenesis and Animal Models

Because of the limitations in studying human rotavirus (HRV) pathogenesis and mucosal immunity in the natural host (infants and children), various animal models have been utilized to investigate rotavirus (RV) disease pathogenesis and immunity. Mice and rabbits serve as useful models to evaluate and dissect immune responses to RV (see Chapter 9 ). However, because older mice (>14 d) and rabbits are not susceptible to diarrhea after inoculation with either homologous (murine or lapine, respectively) or heterologous (human) RVs, assessment of protective immunity is restricted to prevention of virus shedding only (1 –3 ).