A lethal mouse model of Oz virus infection reveals hepatic involvement and enables evaluation of antiviral and vaccine efficacy

Oz virus (OZV), a member of the genus Thogotovirus in the family Orthomyxoviridae, is an emerging tick-borne virus reported in Japan. A fatal human case and seroepidemiological evidence of widespread exposure among wild animals and humans suggest its potential public health significance. However, no animal models suitable for pathogenic studies or evaluation of countermeasures are available for OZV. Here, we have established a lethal mouse model of OZV infection using cell-adapted virus and mice lacking type I interferon signaling (B6 Ifnar1 KO mice). OZV infection resulted in 100% mortality and was characterized by robust viral replication in the liver and spleen, severe hepatitis, and acute liver injury. Using this model, we also demonstrated that oral administration of T-705, an antiviral drug widely used against RNA viruses, as well as immunization with an inactivated whole virus particle vaccine, protected B6 Ifnar1 KO mice from lethal OZV infection by mitigating the acute hepatitis. The present study provides critical insights into OZV pathogenesis and establishes a practical in vivo platform for the development of countermeasures against OZV infection. Significance statementEmerging tick-borne viruses pose a growing public health concern, yet progress in understanding their pathogenesis and in developing countermeasures is often limited by the lack of relevant animal models. Oz virus (OZV), a recently identified thogotovirus associated with a fatal human case, exemplifies this challenge. Here, we establish a lethal mouse model of OZV infection that reveals pronounced hepatic involvement as a central pathological feature. Using this model, we demonstrate effective protection by both an antiviral drug and an inactivated vaccine against lethal OZV challenge. This study provides a practical in vivo platform for investigating OZV pathogenesis and for accelerating the development of medical countermeasures against this emerging tick-borne virus.