Pathogenesis of Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus

Abstract

Summary The pathogenesis of an attenuated and an unattenuated strain of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus infection in suckling mice as studied by infectivity titrations and direct fluorescent antibody-staining technique was described. Both strains of VEE virus caused a pantropic infection in suckling mice regardless of the concentration of inoculum used or the route of inoculation given. Viral antigen was detected in many tissues, notably in the central nervous system and in the pancreas. However the intensity of antigenic fluorescence was rather weak, making it difficult to discern sequential development of the viral antigen in infected tissues.