DISTRIBUTION OF AUJESZKYS-DISEASE VIRUS IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MINK (MUSTELA-VISON)

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.