English term (edited): viral shedding (aquí)

Se refiere a la eliminación del virus al exterior del organismo portador, en la saliva, los excrementos, a través de la piel, las mucosas, etcétera. Este fenómeno es clave para la transmisión del virus.

Más tarde, con tiempo, busco alguna referencia.

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Note added at 1 hora (2008-04-28 19:05:41 GMT)
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Para mí, el término más apropiado para describir este fenómeno es "eliminación", puesto que en el lenguaje médico esta palabra significa "Dicho del organismo: Expeler una sustancia." (DRAE). Después, claro, el virus se disemina, se propaga o lo que sea, pero el organismo los elimina, junto con los excrementos, la saliva o cualquier otra secreción.

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Note added at 5 horas (2008-04-28 23:22:53 GMT)
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Explico más claramente por qué pienso que "eliminación" es una traducción más pertinente de "shedding" que "diseminación".

"Diseminación" es la traducción de otro término muy frecuente en este campo, "spread". Si se traduce "shedding" por"diseminación", ¿cómo traducir "spread" en frases como las siguientes (las mayúsculas son mías, para facilitar la lectura)?:

1) «6.3 Potential of SHED and/or SPREAD from vaccinate to contact target and non-target animals
Since no recombinant canarypox-feline leukemia virus was detected in the saliva, urine and feces after parenteral inoculation, it is not expected that there will be excretion and propagation of the virus following contact with target and non-target animals.»
En: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/vetbio/eaee/vbeafe...

2) «In people who have had at least one outbreak of blistering from genital herpes, the drug famciclovir sharply reduces virus SHEDDING from the external portions of the genitalia, a new study finds. Such SHEDDING can SPREAD the virus between people.»
En: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_17_170/ai_n16...

3) «Avian influenza viruses circulate among birds worldwide. Certain birds, particularly water birds, act as hosts for influenza viruses by carrying the virus in their intestines and SHEDDING it. Infected birds SHED virus in saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds can become infected with avian influenza virus when they have contact with contaminated nasal, respiratory, or fecal material from infected birds. Fecal-to-oral transmission is the most common mode of SPREAD between birds.»
En: http://www.pandemicflu.state.pa.us/pandemicflu/cwp/view.asp?...

4) «Patients should be educated about the infectious nature of herpetic lesions, asymptomatic viral SHEDDING and prevention of viral SPREAD…»
www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2230.2007....

5) «“Some producers vaccinate to reduce viral SHEDDING and minimize the SPREAD of influenza within the herd,” notes Erickson, “while other producers use the vaccine to control clinical signs of the disease in the animal.”»
«In a move toward improving SIV immunity and reducing labor needs, the new bivalent SIV vaccines - with protection against H1N1 and H3N2 - offer convenient, cost effective protection against both flu strains in a single product. MaxiVac’ Excell‘ (Schering-Plough Animal Health) also helps prevent viral SHEDDING which reduces SIV exposure and disease pressure to other animals.»
En: http://www.thepigsite.com/articles/1/health-and-welfare/668/...

Además, si se traduce "shedding" por "diseminación" ¿cómo se traduce "spread" en este otro tipo de frases (las mayúsculas también son mías)?:

6) «In experiments led by Melanie Samuel, a graduate student in Diamond's lab, researchers found that West Nile virus could SPREAD in either direction along the branches of neurons in culture.»
En: http://www.terradaily.com/reports/West_Nile_Virus_Spread_Thr...

7) «Measles Virus SPREAD by Cell-Cell Contacts: Uncoupling of Contact-Mediated Receptor (CD46) Downregulation from Virus Uptake»
En: http://jvi.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/7/5265

8) «Researchers at Erasmus Medical Center have demonstrated systemic SPREAD of avian influenza virus in cats infected by respiratory, digestive, and cat-to-cat contact.»
En: http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_heal...

Por lo tanto, yo (¡y no sólo yo!) traduzco:

- viral shedding: eliminación de(l) virus
- viral spread: diseminación/propagación de(l) virus (dentro del organismo o en el ambiente)

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Note added at 5 horas (2008-04-28 23:32:09 GMT)
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Acabo de recordar otra traducción frecuente de "viral shedding" en este contexto: excreción. Yo prefiero "eliminación" porque "excreción" lo asocio más con excrementos o residuos metabólicos, pero finalmente, ¿por qué no?

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Note added at 5 horas (2008-04-28 23:36:34 GMT)
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"Excreción de(l) virus", obviamente.