Experiments with the Cyprus strain of blue-tongue virus: multiplication in the central nervous system of mice and complement fixation

Abstract

The multiplication rate of blue-tongue virus in suckling and adult mouse brains has been determined. The first cycle of virus multiplication appears to take 8–12 hr. both in fully susceptible sucklings and in adults which suffer an inapparent infection with this virus.Antigens suitable for complement-fixation tests have been made from suckling mouse brains and from eggs infected with blue-tongue virus.A potent immune serum has been obtained from mice immunized by repeated intraperitoneal injections of blue-tongue virus in suckling mouse brain.Attempts, with negative results, have been made to demonstrate interference with virus multiplication by virus from eggs incubated at 38·5° C. and by virus from adult mouse brains.We are grateful to Dr R. Alexander for his helpful and critical interest in this work and to Mr G. S. Turner and Dr G. Selzer for their able and willing assistance.The Virus Research Unit is financed by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and by grants from the Nkana-Kitwe and Chingola Poliomyelitis Research Funds.