Z(EXPERIMENTAL)ZINFECTION OF COYOTE PUPS WITH VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS.
Abstract
An investigation was undertaken to determine the disposition of coyotes to infection by the virus of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, and also to determine onset, height and duration of haemagglutination inhibiting, complement-fixing and virus-neutralizing antibody. In this initial report, it is shown that young coyotes were highly susceptible to the epidemic strain of VEE virus used, and that they developed a dose-independent viremia lasting for an average of 3.6 days in 1 to 2 months-old pups, and 2.8 days in 6 to 7 months-old pups. Less than one mouse intra cerebral medial dose (MICLD50) may initiate infection within 24 hours. Infection with strain of VEE virus led to a characteristic symptomatology, but was characterized by a low incidence of lethality even in very young animals. These results indicate that the coyote may serve as a short term source of VEE virus in the natural infection chain. Although the coyote does occur over a wide geographic range including endemic areas, its role as a link in the dissemination chain leading to human communities may nevertheless be minimal because of its low population density. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0804069
Entities
People
- David L. Lundgren
- David R. Terry
- Keith L. Smart