HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kokernot, R. H. Articles by McIntosh, B. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kokernot, R. H. Articles by McIntosh, B. M.

Isolation of Germiston Virus, a Hitherto Unknown Agent, from Culicine Mosquitoes, and a Report of Infection in Two Laboratory Workers^*

R. H. Kokernot, K. C. Smithburn, H. E. Paterson AND B. M. McIntosh

1. Two strains of filterable virus were isolated from culicine mosquitoes collected at Germiston, Union of South Africa. One was derived from a mixed pool of 5 Culex theileri and 12 C. rubinotus and the other from a pool of 11 C. rubinotus. Results of tests reported herein indicate that the two strains are antigenically indistinguishable and the name Germiston virus has been applied in reference to the locality of origin.

2. Germiston virus is related to but not identical with Bunyamwera virus. With immune sera obtained after inoculation of laboratory animals, antigenic differences between the two viruses were easily demonstrated by HI and CF tests, less easily by neutralization test.

3. Mice immunized with Bunyamwera were not significantly protected when challenged with Germiston virus.

4. Two clinical cases of Germiston virus infection occurred in laboratory workers. Even though a significant level of Bunyamwera virus neutralizing antibody was present in sera of one of the individuals within only a few hours after onset and also in a specimen taken approximately 7 months previously, infection with Germiston virus was not prevented. The implications of this observation and results of other tests on sera from this case obtained at various time intervals are discussed.

5. Observations are presented which lead to the suspicion that birds may have had a role in infecting mosquitoes with Germiston virus.

^* The studies and observations on which this paper is based were financed jointly by the South African Institute for Medical Research, the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and The Rockefeller Foundation, and were conducted with the collaboration of the Union Health Department.

Address: South African Institute for Medical Research, P.O. Box 1038, Johannesburg, South Africa.