Transmission of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis in Ring-Necked Pheasants. ∗

Abstract

Summary

(1) Six of 14 ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) were infected following oral instillation of measured doses of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus. In one instance as little as 165 mouse LD⁵⁰ doses administered through this route were sufficient to induce infection. (2) EEE virus was recovered from blood, brain and oral secretions but not from the cloacal contents of pheasants infected by either subcutaneous inoculation or oral instillation of the agent. (3) EEE infection spread from 2 inoculated pheasants to 19 of 20 contacts in each of 2 pheasant flocks maintained in screened pens and further protected against arthropods through the use of insecticides. Transmission was apparently completed during the first 4 days of contact between inoculated and exposed birds. The infection did not spread to susceptible control birds in contiguous enclosures. (4) The findings were discussed in regard to their possible application in future studies.