Experimental Infection of Dogs and Monkeys with Two Rabies Serogroup Viruses, Lagos Bat and Mokola (IbAn 27377): Clinical, Serologic, Virologic, and Fluorescent-Antibody Studies
Two members of the rabies serogroup, Lagos bat virus and Mokola virus (IbAn 27377), were inoculated into dogs and monkeys by the intracerebral (ic) or im route. Both viruses produced fatal infections when inoculated ic; both viruses were less pathogenic when inoculated extraneurally. Virologic and fluorescent-antibody studies showed that these two agents are similar to rabies virus in their predilection for the central nervous system, salivary glands, and pancreas. In sera of dogs inoculated with Lagos bat or Mokola virus, neutralizing antibodies were found to these two viruses and to rabies virus. In the sera of monkeys inoculated with Lagos bat or Mokola virus, neutralizing antibodies were found to these two viruses only and not to rabies virus. Significant cross-reactivity was observed among Lagos bat, Mokola, and rabies viruses by the indirect fluorescent-antibody test when antigen from necropsied animals and murine hyperimmune reagents were used.