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.