[Distribution of the rabies virus in the central nervous system of naturally infected foxes]

Quantitative distribution of rabies virus and the character of immunofluorescence in various parts of the central nervous system [CNS] and salivary glands were investigated in 21 naturally infected foxes. A mean death period was recorded in mice infected with the virus obtained from various parts of the CNS and salivary glands of the investigated foxes. The highest average titer of the virus was found out in the salivary glands - 4.46 log MLD50 per 0.03 ml i. c. The average titer was 2.30 log in the cornu ammonis, 1.99 log in the lobus olifactorius, 1.80 log in the spinal cord of the sacro-lumbar region, 1.73 log in the cortex, 1.71 log in the medulla oblongata, and 1.64 log in the cerebellum. The highest intensity of specific fluorscence was recorded in the thalamus, lobus piriformis, and cornu ammonis. In these regions, numerous round fluorescent inclusion bodies similar to Babes-Negri bodies occurred. Babes-Negri bodies in the cornu ammonis of foxes were proved in 81% of cases. Mice infected with the virus obtained from the salivary glands showed the shortest mean death period - 12.2 days and from the cornu ammonis it was 14.6 days. In virus infection from the other parts of the CNS the mean death period ranged from 16.0 to 17.4 days.