Temperature Reactions in Dogs to Inoculation with Ferret Passage Distemper Virus

Conclusions

Ferret-passage distemper virus of 54 serial transfers, upon injection into young dogs, induced a mild infection with a biphasic temperature reaction similar to that observed in natural distemper infections. No difference in temperature reactions was observed in groups of dogs injected with 2.5 mg and with 15 mg of the ferret-passage virus. Similar mild reactions were observed following the injection of virus of 63 ferret passages. The dose of 2.5 mg produced temperature reactions which were biphasic in character. The 15-mg dose of this virus tended to produce an exaggerated initial fever which gradually declined without the production of a second rise in temperature.