SUMMARY Bluetongue (bt) virus from 2 sources was used to determine virus-host relationships in 24 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Different doses of deer-passaged virus and egg-passaged vaccinal virus, both of the “standard” North American bt8 strain, were inoculated subcutaneously into deer kept in isolation. The L cell (clone 929) and BHK-21 cell (clone 13) monolayer cultures were used to measure viremia and tissue-associated virus. Two types of infection were demonstrated: (1) an acute rapidly fatal form and (2) a subclinical form accompanied by persistent viremia. It seems that white-tailed deer are very susceptible to bt virus and may be important hosts in nature.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Thomas et al. (1970) studied this question.