[Pathogenesis of experimental rabies infection in foxes and cats infected with viruses isolated from hamsters (Cricetus cricetus)].

All the infected foxes (9) contracted the disease and died from rabies the 20th-21st day from infection with the virus isolated from hamster. Out of the total number of 9 cats experimentally infected by intramuscular infection, seven showed symptoms of clinical disease on the 18th-34th day from infection. The infected dogs, wolves and rabbits did not show clinical disease. In the post mortem examination of eight foxes the rabies virus or rabies antigen was detected in all parts of the CNS and in n. ischiadicus. Of the extraneural organs, the virus was present, in all animals, in the pharyngeal salivary glands, and in one fox also in the tongue. The bioassay on the eye was positive in all cases. The rabies antigen was detected in 4 foxes in the thigh muscle, in liver and spleen, and in all 8 foxes in lungs and cornea, in 5 cases in kidney, and in 3 cases in heart and tongue. Seven cats were examined post mortem by the inoculation test on mice and the PMIF-staining test; it was found that the rabies virus, or rabies antigen, was distributed in the same manner as in foxes.