Serial propagation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in guinea pigs.

The transmission and serial propagation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from man to guinea pigs are reported. The latency, symptomatology, and morphology of the infection during the first four passages are presented. The incubation period between the first and subsequent passages was halved. One hundred percent take, morbidity, and mortality were achieved in all inoculated animals. All guinea pigs developed a subacute spongiform virus encephalopathy with marked neuronal destruction in the cerebral cortex and subcortical grey structures. The neuronal loss resulted in cerebral atrophy and hydrocephalus ex vacuo.