Abstract
Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus infection in the common vole was examined for the first time. Sixteen 8-week-old males inoculated intraperitoneally with 105 plaque-forming units (pfu)/animal of the D variant of EMC virus were killed 3 and 7 days after inoculation (3 and 7 DAI). Viral replication was detected in the brain (105 pfu/g), heart (104 pfu/g) and pancreas (107 pfu/g) of all 8 animals at 3DAI. It was found in the pancreas (103 pfu/g) of all 8 animals and in the brain (104 pfu/g) of 2 of 8 animals at 7 DAI. Histopathological changes were observed in the brain (mild mononuclear cell infiltration around capillaries and sporadic pyknosis of neurons), heart (minimal myocardial necrosis) and pancreas (prominent acinar cell necrosis with inflammatory exudation) at 3DAI. At 7 DAI, replacement of necrotic tissues by mesenchymal cells and regeneration of acinar cells were conspicuous in the pancreas. Throughout the experimental period, no evidence for diabetogenic effect was found.