[Fluorescence serologic and histologic studies of antigen distribution in parvovirus infections in dogs and cats].

In organs known as replication sites of parvovirus and additionally in stratified squamous epithelia from different regions of 35 dogs with lethal parvovirus enteritis and 19 cats with lethal panleukopenia the distribution of antigen and the prevalence of histologic lesions were studied by immunofluorescence and histologic techniques. The findings showed no striking differences between dogs and cats. Antigen was found in the epithelia of the dorsal side of the tongue (96.3%), pharynx (81.0%), esophagus (50.0%), ventral side of the tongue (20.4%) and planum nasale (5.6%). The epithelia of the skin and the mucous membranes of the male and female genital organs never contained antigen. Moreover antigen was detected in the mucosa of the small intestine (85.2%), bone marrow (81.6%), spleen (79.6%), thymus (66.7%), mesenteric lymph nodes (60.4%), tonsilla palatina (58.5%), smooth muscle cells of the tunica muscularis of the small intestine (9.3%) and myocardium (1.9%). The histologic lesions found in intestinal mucosa, lymphatic tissues, bone marrow and myocardium are in accordance with literature. The tunica muscularis of the small intestine and the epithelium of tongue, pharynx and esophagus contained intranuclear inclusion bodies, the epithelium of tongue and pharynx showed necroses additionally. Tongue- and esophagus-erosions as well as -ulcers reported mainly in panleukopenia according to our results may be explained as a sequel of parvovirus infection of the epithelia of these organs. The prevalence of antigen and intranuclear inclusion bodies in the myocardium and smooth muscle cells of the small intestine--tissues with low or no mitotic activity,--allows to question the postulate of the parvoviruses' exclusive affinity to rapidly dividing cells.