| Bacterial culturing - Bergey's Manual grew from the gooey rabbits. The fresher ones were all sterile. |
| Virus isolation - All rabbit samples were negative. No viruses were isolated in a number of cell cultures used. |
| Serology - Only one of the serum samples was positive in the serologic test for viral hemorrhagic disease. This is a hemagglutination inhibition test and the titer of the one central healthy rabbit in the midst of all the sick ones was 1:1200. |
| Histopathology - Extensive hepatic necrosis with a periportal pattern. |
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| In addition, there was evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in a number of organs, most notably lung and kidney. |
| Hey, this looks like it could well be viral hemorrhagic disease, so Dr. Douglas Gregg, FADDL's electron microscopist, and also a recognized expert on viral hemorrhagic disease, decides to do electron microscopy: |
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| Electron microscopy - Dr. Gregg found, by negative staining, that the liver was full of viral particles (see below). These viral particles are 26-30 mm, roughly spherical, non-enveloped, and with small surface projections. What could this virus be? |
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Click here for some answers to frequently asked questions about this disease. |