Virus enteritis of mink. A scanning electron microscopic investigation.

Advanced lesions in the jejunal mucosa in virus enteritis of mink were studied by scanning electron microscopy. The changes were found to be in good accordance with those observed in the light microscope, and included ballooned degeneration of entero-cytes, epithelial desquamation, the occurrence of fibrinous pseudo-membranes, atrophy or total loss of villi; partially atrophied villi were frequently fused. In some areas there were incipient regenerative processes, including proliferation of ballooned cells which covered the luminal surface of the damaged jejunal wall.