Experimental encephalomyocarditis virus infection in pigs.
A field isolate of Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus was inoculated intravenously into 8 pigs. Four animals died at post inoculation day (PID) 2, the remaining being sacrificed at PID 5, 7, 11 and 15. Two control, in-contact pigs were sacrificed at PID 19. Virus was isolated from leucocytes and nasal swabs until PID 4, from rectal swabs until PID 2 and, in the pigs found dead at PID 2, from several organs. EMC virus was further isolated from brain and spleen of the pig sacrificed at PID 7. One of the 2 control pigs became infected: virus was isolated from nasal swabs at days 6 and 7 and from leucocytes at day 4 of the experiment. Serum-neutralizing (SN) antibody was detected in the injected pigs starting from PID 4; two days later, it was also revealed in the infected, in-contact control. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an experimental transmission of EMC virus infection in pigs by contact exposure.
Foni
E
E
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia, Italy.
Barigazzi
G
G
Sidoli
L
L
Marcato
P S
PS
Sarli
G
G
Della Salda
L
L
Spinaci
M
M
D000818:Animals; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004686:Encephalomyocarditis virus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000382:microbiology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*