Abstract: A MCMV-Smith strain was used for experimental infection. Two strains of mice, resistant CBA mice and susccptibie Kunming mice, were showed to have different clinical manifestations, pathologies and mortalities. It was found that of the 3 organs, submaxillary glands, spleens, and kidneys, submaxillary glands were the most reliable organ for MCMV isolation. MCMV could be readily recovered from submaxillary glands 7 days postinfection in both strains of mice and lasted 70-105 days postinfection, while rare were from spleens and kidneys.

Key words: murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), experimental infection, pathology, viral isolation