Experimental Aujeszky's Disease in Blue Foxes (<i>Alopex lagopus</i>

Abstract

Blue foxes were inoculated orally with Aujeszky's disease virus. Several foxes were killed at the onset of clinical signs and other animals spontaneously died. The incubation period ranged from 3 to 6 days and was followed by a short illness characterized by anorexia, depression and coma. At autopsy, no specific gross findings were observed. Microscopically, lesions included a non-suppurative meningoencephalitis with neuronal necrosis, gliosis, neuronophagia and mononuclear cell cuffing. Viral antigen was detected by immunoperoxidase technique.