EBV-Associated Diseases in Humans and their Animal in vivo Models: Part I

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of human herpesviruses and a member of the gamma herpesvirus family (lymphocryptovirus). Infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma are well-known EBV-associated diseases. The range of EBV-associated diseases has recently expanded to include Hodgkin's lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, pyothorax-associated or methotrexate-associated B-cell lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma and lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the stomach, thymus and salivary gland, lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) or leiomyosarcomas from immunocompromized host, oral hairy leukoplakia and EBV-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. Animal models of human EBV-associated diseases are essential to elucidate the pathogenesis of EBV-infection and EBV-associated diseases. However, only several reports on the animal models of EBV infection have been reported. Here I review the summary of EBV-associated diseases in humans and those previous animal models using EBV or EBV-like herpesviruses and describe some details on our two newly developed rabbit models of LPD induced by simian EBV-like viruses and a mouse model with murine gammaherpesvirus. These animal models are useful and inexpensive alternative experimental model systems for studying the biology and pathogenesis of EBV, and prophylactic and therapeutic regimens.