Tissue-specific distribution of FMDV.

<p>Detection was performed by virus isolation or rRT-PCR in persistently infected steers inoculated by direct (intradermolingual route) or contact exposure inoculation. Only the epithelium of the Dorsal Nasopharynx (7) occupies the highest stratum of 80–100% indicating this tissue as the most consistent site of FMDV persistent infection. Prevalence values were calculated as number of animals in which a tissue was determined positive by one or both techniques/total number of animals.