Experimental Feline Infectious Enteritis in the Germfree Cat

Abstract

In the absence of other microorganisms the virus of feline infectious enteritis produced a mild, non-fatal clinical disease in germfree cats. A biphasic temperature rise occurred on post inoculation day (PID) 2 and 4. All of the germfree cats began to recover by PID 7. Absolute lymphopenia occurred on the first day followed by absolute neutropenia on PID 4. The leucocyte counts were within the normal range by PID 10. Severe atrophy of the thymus was the only macroscopic lesion produced. Depletion of mature lymphocytes and reticuloendothelial cell hyperplasia occurred in all other lymphocytic tissue. No inclusion body considered to be of diagnostic significance could be demonstrated. There was no evidence of enteritis grossly or microscopically in germfree cats.