Electron microscopic studies on equine encephalosis virus

Abstract

Electron microscopic studies carried out on thin sections of BHK 21 cells infected with equine encephalosis virus (EEV) have revealed a fine cytopathology closely resembling that shown by bluetongue and African horsesickness viruses. The characteristics include the presence of granular inclusion bodies from which mature virus particles appear to arise, swelling of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the presence of inclusion bodies in the mitochondrial matrix. The diameter of the sectioned virus particle is approximately 73 nm, and 60 nm when negatively stained. The experimental observations suggest that the capsid is composed of 32 morphological subunits.