Breeding and Experimental Facility for Woodchucks (Marmota monax). Annual Report. May 27, 1985-May 26, 1986

摘要

The breeding colony of the Breeding and Experimental Facility for Woodchucks was more than doubled in size. 161 woodchucks born during 1986 were raised to weaning age. The influence of hibernation-inducing conditions on the reproductive cycle of male and female laboratory woodchucks was studied. Studies of experimental woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection were continued. Three collaborative studies on woodchucks were initiated: sequential virological and histopathological studies of neonates inoculated with WHV during acute and persistent infection, and a study of the infectivity of hepatitis B virus in neonates; neonates and adults after transfection with DNA from the wild type WH8 strain and constructs that included X gene deletions; infectivity of ground squirrel hepatitis virus in neonates.