Abstract
Summary
The results indicate that the gray fox is relatively resistant to fox encephalitis virus virulent for red foxes. It appears that the virus will regularly infect the gray fox to produce a symptomless infection, but only occasionally will symptoms appear that resemble the disease in red foxes.
A virulence gradient of this virus for related species can be postulated whereby in the family Canidae the closely related dogs and coyotes (Cants) and red foxes (Vulpes) are most susceptible, the more distantly related gray fox (Urocyon) less susceptible, and those species which are earlier offshoots of the canines, such as the black bear and the raccoon, are the least susceptible to fox encephalitis.
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