Systematic Veterinary Virology

LESIONS

• Rinderpest virus has affinity for lymphoid tissues and a secondary affinity for the epithelium of the alimentary, upper respiratory and urogenital tracts.
• Oral lesions start as small grey foci that may coalesce. The grey (necrotic) epithelium then sloughs off and leaves a red erosion. At mouth lesions occur on the gums, lips, hard and soft palate, cheeks, and base of the tongue. The early lesions are grey, necrotic, pinhead-sized areas that later coalesce and erode and leave red areas. The eso
• Intestinal lesions are characterized by necrosis or erosion of Peyer's patches in the jejunum, necrosis or erosions over the lymphoid area in the ileum. Lesions are more severe in the upper colon (edema of the wall, erosions in the mucosa, and congestion). Further down the colon, the colonic ridges may be congested; this is referred to as "tiger striping". Severity of intestinal lesions varies between isolates.
• Lymph nodes are swollen and edematous.
• Lung lesions are emphysema, congestion, and areas of pneumonia.