Abstract
Summary
1) Rat virus (RV) can induce 3 different conditions in suckling hamsters according to dose of virus and age of the animal at time of inoculation. These conditions are (a) a fatal disease in sucklings 1 to 4 days of age; (b) a stunted growth in those surviving a minimal dose, and (c) a latent infection of older sucklings. 2) Spontaneous transmission of RV can take place from inoculated to uninoculated hamsters. 3) Infected sucklings have infective virus in high titer in livers, kidneys and other organs as well as in lesser amounts in blood and urine. Specimens with the highest infectivity titers have also had considerable amounts of hemagglutination activity. 4) Rat virus has been carried through 20 passages in suckling hamsters. Intracerebral, intranasal, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal routes of inoculation have all been effective in inducing acute disease.
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