The persistence of foot-and-mouth disease virus in sheep

Abstract

Sheep infected with FMDV strains of different epizootiological origin developed a carrier state which persisted in the majority of animals for 1–5 months.The sites of virus persistence and multiplication in the convalescent animal were identified by titration of suspensions of mucosae and epithelia taken post mortem. Virus was recovered most frequently and in highest titre from the tonsillar area and less frequently from the pharynx and dorsal surface of the soft palate. No virus was found in samples taken from the nasal passages, the trachea or the rumen.