Dissemination of influenza virus between anatomically isolated sites in ferrets

Influenza virus was shown to disseminate from the respiratory tract of nasally infected ferrets to a surgically formed, subcutaneous tracheal pouch. Conversely, ferrets infected via the pouch shed virus from the upper respiratory tract. These events occurred within the first 24 h after infection. Passively administered ferret antibody to virus did not prevent the dissemination.