Rabies Street Virus Strains in the Syrian Hamster and in the Swiss Albino Mouse

1. Hamsters and mice were challenged intracerebrally and hamsters rectally with 14 strains of rabies street virus in order to determine the better species of animal and route of inoculation in diagnostic work for rabies. With 6 of the 14 strains the incubation periods in intracerebrally inoculated hamsters were shorter than in the mice. Although the incubation period was longer in the hamsters challenged rectally, no preliminary treatment to eliminate bacterial contamination was necessary. 2. Examination of stained touch preparations revealed that the Negri bodies in infected hamster brains were larger and more numerous than those in infected mouse brains.