Susceptibility of laboratory and domestic animals to experimental infection with Orungo virus.

Laboratory and domestic animals: mice, hamsters, rabbits, sparrows, chickens and lambs were inoculated with Orungo virus to determine their susceptibility as evidenced by clinical response, viraemia and antibody development. Mice and hamsters circulated the virus and developed neutralising antibodies; clinical signs of disease included ruffled hair coat, hypersensitivity to sudden noise and hindleg paralysis. There was an age-related susceptibility to infection in these two animals. Rabbits and lambs developed neutralising antibody but not viraemia, nor did they show signs of illness. Sparrows and chickens neither circulated the virus, nor developed neutralising antibodies to Orungo virus.