Nonlethal infection of laboratory mice induced with "mouse" rabies strains

Nonlethal infection was induced in laboratory mice with sublethal doses of rabies strains isolated from small wild rodents. Three types of nonlethal infecion were observed: persistent--with virus irregularly reisolable for at least 56 days after inoculation: latent--with negative virus reisolation but presence of infection demonstrable by transmission of virus neutralization activity to other animals; and abortive--with only a primary immune response, nontransmissible to other animals. A hyperreactive state called "early death" was observed in some mice. All surviving animals recovered without sequelae.