Protection of pigs against mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus by immunization with a live attenuated vaccine.

Pigs were vaccinated with an attenuated Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccine and challenged with virulent JEV, either by subcutaneous injection or by exposure to infected mosquitoes. The vaccinated pigs developed circulating antibodies to JEV. After challenge they did not develop viremia detectable by inoculation of their serum in suckling mice. They were also unable to transmit virus to mosquitoes fed on their skin. In contrast, unvaccinated pigs, whether challenged by injection or by mosquito bites, developed viremia and did transmit virus to mosquitoes which were allowed to bite them. Transmission seemed possible for only 3 days post-infection.