Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)

Characteristics
Morphology	A member of the Vesiculovirus genus, in the family Rhabdoviridae. VSV is a bullet-shaped, enveloped virus, approximately 70 nm in diameter and 170 nm in length, and has a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA genome. VSV has eight main serotypes: Indiana, New Jersey, Cocal, Alagoas, Isfahan, Chandipura, Maraba, and Piry.
Growth Conditions	Cell culture (recommended LLC-MK2 cells; Incubated at 35 °C within 24 to 48 hours)

Health Hazards
Host Range	VSV causes disease in cattle, horses and swine. Humans can contract VSV through direct contact with infected animals, or indirectly through the bite of an infected fly.
Modes of Transmission	Bite of an infected sand fly, by direct contact with abrasions on the skin, by contact with infected domestic animals, or by inhaling aerosols via the nasopharyngeal route. The virus has also been transmitted via accidental autoinoculation or inhalation of aerosols in a laboratory setting.
Signs and Symptoms	1) Infections with Indiana and New Jersey VSV serotypes: high fever (often biphasic); flu-like symptoms include severe malaise, headaches, myalgia, arthralgia, retrosternal pain, eye aches, and nausea. 2) Infections with Algoas serotype: flu-like symptoms. 3) Infections with Chandipura serotype: fever, sensory disorders, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, and encephalitis. 4) Infections with Cocal, Piry, Maraba, Isfahan serotypes: unknown
Infectious Dose	Unknown
Incubation Period	A wide range of incubation periods have been reported from 30 hours to 6 days

Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis	None publically available
Vaccines	None publically available
Treatment	No specific treatment is available. Symptomatic treatment and prevention of secondary infections is important
Surveillance	Monitor for symptoms. Laboratory confirmation is done via virus isolation from throat swabs or blood, PCR, ELISA, neutralization, compliment fixation, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy
GWU Requirements	Report all incidents to the Office of Risk Management as well as the Office of Research Safety (ORS) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE.

Containment
BSL-2	Risk Group 2 classification is applied to Indiana, Cocal, Alagoas, New Jersey, Isfahan and Maraba VSV serotypes. Containment Level 2 facilities, equipment, and operational practices are recommended for work involving these serotypes. All procedures that may produce aerosols, involve high concentrations, or large volumes should be conducted in a biological safety cabinet (BSC). The use of needles and other sharp objects should be strictly limited. Additional precautions should be considered with work involving animals or large scale activities.
BSL-3	Risk Group 3 classification is applied to Chandipura and Piry serotypes. BSL-3 practices, containment, equipment, and facilities are recommended for work involving infectious or potentially infectious materials, animals, or cultures

Containment

BSL-2

Risk Group 2 classification is applied to Indiana, Cocal, Alagoas, New Jersey, Isfahan and Maraba VSV serotypes. Containment Level 2 facilities, equipment, and operational practices are recommended for work involving these serotypes. All procedures that may produce aerosols, involve high concentrations, or large volumes should be conducted in a biological safety cabinet (BSC). The use of needles and other sharp objects should be strictly limited. Additional precautions should be considered with work involving animals or large scale activities.

BSL-3

Risk Group 3 classification is applied to Chandipura and Piry serotypes. BSL-3 practices, containment, equipment, and facilities are recommended for work involving infectious or potentially infectious materials, animals, or cultures

Spill Procedures
Small Spills (<1 liter)	If the spill occurred inside a biological safety cabinet, close the sash and allow the cabinet to operate for 15 minutes before continuing with the spill cleanup. Caution should still be taken during a spill outside of a BSC. Leave the room immediately and allow the aerosols to dissipate for 15 minutes. Notify others working in the lab. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels or any absorbent material and apply an EPA registered disinfectant effective against enveloped viruses (bleach), working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 30 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials.
Large Spills	Alert lab personnel in the laboratory to the spill and keep people out of the area to prevent spread of the contamination. Check if you have been contaminated or if any of your PPE has been breached. If so follow exposure procedures. Remove any contaminated clothing and place it the biohazard waste. Wash your hands and post a sign on the door. Notify your supervisor of the incident and call ORS (4-8258) for assistance. If the situation involves an imminently life-threatening injury or has catastrophic potential, call 911.

Spill Procedures

Small Spills (<1 liter)

If the spill occurred inside a biological safety cabinet, close the sash and allow the cabinet to operate for 15 minutes before continuing with the spill cleanup.

Caution should still be taken during a spill outside of a BSC. Leave the room immediately and allow the aerosols to dissipate for 15 minutes. Notify others working in the lab. Don appropriate PPE. Cover area of the spill with paper towels or any absorbent material and apply an EPA registered disinfectant effective against enveloped viruses (bleach), working from the perimeter towards the center. Allow 30 minutes of contact time before disposal and cleanup of spill materials.

Large Spills

Alert lab personnel in the laboratory to the spill and keep people out of the area to prevent spread of the contamination. Check if you have been contaminated or if any of your PPE has been breached. If so follow exposure procedures. Remove any contaminated clothing and place it the biohazard waste. Wash your hands and post a sign on the door. Notify your supervisor of the incident and call ORS (4-8258) for assistance. If the situation involves an imminently life-threatening injury or has catastrophic potential, call 911.

Exposure Procedures
Mucus Membrane	Flush eyes, mouth or nose for 15 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposure	Wash area with soap and water for 15 minutes.
Reporting	Report ALL injuries to the PI immediately and reported to the Office of Risk Management at [email protected] IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE. Exposures that involve a bloodborne-pathogen or recombinant DNA also need to be reported to the Office of Research Safety at [email protected]. If the injury requires immediate medical attention, call GWPD at 202-994-6111 or call 911.
Medical Monitoring	Seek immediate medical evaluation, treatment, and post exposure follow-up at the Employee Health Office at GWU Hospital (900 23rd St., NW, Suite G-1090, Phone: 202-715-4275). Students should go to the Students Health Office at Marvin Center. After hours treatment can be received at the GWU hospital emergency room.

Stability
Disinfection	Susceptible to 10% bleach, 1% cresylic acid, phenolics, chlorinated phenol, 2.5% phenol
Inactivation	Inactivated at low pH (1.5) and immediately upon heating to 60 °C
Survival Outside Host	VSV can survive for 3 to 4 days in infected saliva on milking pails, mangers and hay

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements	At minimum, personnel are required to don gloves, closed toed shoes, lab coat, and appropriate face and eye protection prior to working with VSV. Additional PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs.
Additional Precautions	Additional protection may be worn over laboratory clothing when infectious materials are directly handled, such as solid-front gowns with tight fitting wrists, gloves, and respiratory protection.

References
USDA (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fs-vesicular-stom…) Iowa State University (https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdpam/FSVD/swine/index-diseases/vesicular-st…) Canadian PHAC (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-bi…)