Pathologic Features of Picornavirus Infections in Cats

Abstract

SUMMARY Cats inoculated intranasally with an aerosol of picornavirus developed a clinically recognizable disease entity. In addition to developing mild rhinitis and conjunctivitis, 17% of the cats had palatine or glossal ulcerations (or both). Viral antigen was seen by fluorescent antibody techniques at the margins of the ulcers. The significant lesions were bronchopneumonia which occurred early in the disease and profiferation of alveolar and bronchiolar epithelium in an “adenomatoid” manner which occurred later. Viral antigen in reactive cells in the lung was demonstrated by fluorescent antibody techniques. Spleens in 20% of the cats had transverse dark bands not previously reported.