Vesicular stomatitis virus can establish persistent infections in Syrian hamsters

Persistent infections by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) of the Indiana serotype were readily established in adult Syrian hamsters following intraperitoneal injection of the virus. Plaque-forming virus, identified as VSV by serological and physical criteria, was isolated from brain homogenates of five hamsters that were tested 3 to 8 months after infection. Four of these animals had exhibited either transient or permanent paralysis, whereas the fifth appeared healthy, during the period of observation. At the time of sacrifice all hamsters had high titres of anti-VSV-neutralizing antibodies in their sera.