ENCEPHALOMYOCARDITIS (EMC) VIRUS-INFECTION IN THE COMMON VOLE, MICROTUS-ARVALIS

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus infection in the common vole was exam ined for the first time. Sixteen 8-week-old males inoculated intraperi toneally with 10(5) plaque-forming units (pfu)/animal of the D variant of EMC virus were killed 3 and 7 days after inoculation (3 and 7 DAI) . Viral replication was detected in the brain (10(5) pfu/g), heart (10 (4) pfu/g) and pancreas (10(7) pfu/g) of all 8 animals at 3DAI. It was found in the pancreas (10(3) pfu/g) of all 8 animals and in the brain (10(4) pfu/g) of 2 of 8 animals at 7 DAI. Histopathological changes w ere observed in the brain (mild mononuclear cell infiltration around c apillaries and sporadic pyknosis of neurons), heart (minimal myocardia l necrosis) and pancreas (prominent acinar cell necrosis with inflamma tory exudation) at 3DAI. At 7 DAI, replacement of necrotic tissues by mesenchymal cells and regeneration of acinar cells were conspicuous in the pancreas. Throughout the experimental period, no evidence for dia betogenic effect was found.