The permissiveness of cat motor and sensory systems to infection by ps
eudorabies virus (PRV) was examined. Eight adult cats of both sexes re
ceived injections of a virulent strain of PRV (PRV-Becker) into either
the diaphragm or neck musculature. Temporal analysis of the replicati
on and transynaptic passage of virus in each experimental paradigm rev
ealed that sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia were more suscep
tible to infection than motor neurons. Only scattered motor neurons di
splayed productive replication of virus at postinoculation intervals e
xtending to 192 h whereas robust replication of virus in neurons in th
e dorsal root ganglia and dorsal horn of the spinal cord was apparent
as early as 96 h post inoculation. The data demonstrate that functiona
lly distinct populations of neurons in the cat are differentially perm
issive to infection and transneuronal transport of PRV.