DIAGNOSIS OF AUJESZKYS-DISEASE VIRUS-INFECTION IN DOGS BY USE OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY AND IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

Aujeszky's disease (AD) was diagnosed in seven dogs by histological ex amination, immunohistochemistry and DNA in-situ hybridization. All dog s which lived on two swine farms died spontaneously showing an acute n eurological syndrome (hypersalivation, vomiting, pruritus, depression and coma). The most significant histopathological lesion was a non-sup purative encephalitis located in the brain stem, mainly near the floor of the IVth ventricle. Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) antigen and ADV nucleic acid distribution coincided with the histopathological lesion s. However, little ADV antigen and ADV nucleic acid was found in serve ry damaged areas. A few neurons stained intensely by immunohistochemis try and in-situ hybridization in non-inflamatory areas. Both immunohis tochemistry and in-situ hybridization techniques are valid techniques to confirm ADV infection in paraffin-embedded tissues and will be usef ul for characterizing the pathogenesis of ADV in the central nervous s ystem (CNS) in carnivores.