Rodent models for the study of therapy against flavivirus infections

Flaviviruses cause a variety of diseases including (meningo)encephalitis and hemorrhagic fevers. Then, is no specific antiviral therapy available for the treatment of infections with flaviviruses and such therapy should be urgently developed. Small animal models that are reminiscent of the disease in man will be instrumental to identify therapeutic strategies against flavivirus infections. Here we review models in mice and hamsters that may be used to assess the efficacy of novel antiviral strategies against flavivirus infections. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.