Humane endpoints are an objective measure of morbidity in Venezuelan encephalomyelitis virus infection of mice

By A. J. Wright - R. J. Phillpotts

The clinical signs are described of Venezuelan encephalomyelitis virus (VEEV) infection in mice after both airborne and subcutaneous (s.c.) challenge. Group clinical scores reflected the known pathogenesis of infection by both s.c. and airborne challenge, and with epizootic and enzootic strains of VEEV. This observation confirms the specific relationship of the observed clinical signs to VEEV infection. Within an experiment, those who are assessing the animals for clinical signs must have a common understanding of their appearance, including severity, and should be unaware of the allocation of treatments. If these conditions are met, the progress of clinical signs may be used to determine objectively the time of culling for humane endpoints.