Studies on pathogenesis of buffalo pox virus in rabbits: quantitative assay of virus in different organs.

The buffalo pox virus was found to multiply in the skin, the primary site of inoculation with an eclipse phase of 12 hr. The virus was then detected in the skin after 15 hr followed by its appearance in regional lymph nodes 36 hr postinoculation. Primary viremia was detected 48 hr postinoculation, followed by detection of virus in the lungs, liver, and spleen. The virus multiplied in the lungs on day 4 and in the liver and spleen on day 5 postinoculation and its release led to secondary viremia. In a follow-up from day 7 to 14 postinoculation, the virus was detected in the kidneys, stomach, intestines, and gonads.