Plasma phase viremia in canine distemper virus infection

Plasma samples from gnotobiotic pups infected with R252 canine distemper virus at 7 days of age contained free infective virus when titrated on canine pulmonary macrophage cultures. Virus was detected 7 days after infection and increased thereafter. Platelets may be involved in leukocyte-free viremia. The present study indicated that the method of dissemination of the virus in vivo involves plasma and canine distemper virus-infected leukocytes.