Ocular pathogenesis of Newcastle disease virus in rabbits and monkeys.

Studies on the ocular pathogenesis of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in rabbits and monkeys revealed that conjunctivitis can only be produced by the virus when conjunctival epithelium is traumatized; multiple instillations of large doses of virus over the intact conjunctiva failed to do so. The presence of serum HI antibodies showed no correlation with the clinical form of the disease in rabbits. However, in monkeys, the disease showed a uniform pattern of immune response irrespective of the strain of the virus. Monkeys may be useful for further studies.