Ultrastructural changes and antigen localization in tissues from foot-and-mouth disease virus-infected guinea-pigs

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)-induced ultrastructural changes in guinea-pig tongue, heelpad, mammary and liver tissues were examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. FMDV infection caused cell rounding and the release of virus in membrane limited vesicles in the animal tissues similar to that seen in other work in cell cultures. Microfilaments were present which may be responsible for cell rounding. Immunoperoxidase labeling revealed the attachment of the virus-infection associated (VIA) antigen to the smooth vacuoles of mammary and liver tissues, and to milk fat globules. The electron microscope immunoperoxidase procedure increased the sensitivity of detection sufficiently to allow the visualization of VIA antigen in tissues not previously shown to have the antigen. It is postulated that the release of the smooth vacuoles from the liver cells stimulates the animal's immune response to the VIA antigen.