Mi. Quiroga et al., DISTRIBUTION OF AUJESZKYS-DISEASE VIRUS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MINK (MUSTELA-VISON), DTW. Deutsche tierarztliche Wochenschrift, 104(4), 1997, pp. 147-150
Eight Mink (Mustela vison) were inoculated orally with Aujeszky's dise
ase virus (ADV). Three mink were killed at the onset of clinical signs
and the other mink died spontaneously after inoculation. The incubati
on period ranged from 72 to 96 hours and was followed by a short illne
ss characterised by increasing salivation, vomiting and retching, depr
ession and coma. Microscopically, lesions were confined to the brain s
tem and consisted of a discrete non-suppurative encephalitis. Viral an
tigen was detected by an immunoperoxidase technique predominantly in a
ssociation with specific lesions, although sometimes it was found with
in non-altered areas in the brain stem. Virus isolation confirmed the
presence of ADV in the central nervous system. Fibrinoid degeneration
of vessel walls was present in pharynx, larynx and myocardium in assoc
iation with haemorrhages. Microthrombi were observed in heart and brai
n.