Accumulation dynamics of the agent of amyotrophic leukospongiosis and the development of degenerative changes in the central nervous system of guinea pigs.

After retrobulbar inoculation into guinea pigs, the agent of amyotrophic leukospongiosis was detected in the central nervous system (CNS) as early as 7 days post-infection (p.i.), whereas specific morphological changes appeared since days 14 to 21 p.i. Virological and morphological findings suggested that motoneurons of the spinal cord were first damaged in the course of the pathologic process which then proceeded upwards.