POLYVALENT GROUP B ARBOVIRUS ANTISERUM PRODUCED IN MONKEYS.

Abstract

SummaryPolyvalent group B arbovirus antiserum reactive by complement-fixation test was prepared in monkeys by sequential inoculation of Japanese encephalitis (JE), yellow fever, and TP 21 (Langat) viruses. Such serum should facilitate identification of newly isolated arboviruses as members of group B. Combinations of JE, dengue 1 and TP 21 or yellow fever viruses produced sera with lesser degrees of polyvalency, and use of only JE and yellow fever viruses yielded serum with only low CF titers to a few heterologous group B arboviruses. Examination of 27 monkeys for pre-existing arboviral neutralizing antibodies revealed most to be negative; however, one rhesus monkey from India was positive to Oriboca virus and another to Bwamba virus, suggesting that these or antigenically closely related arboviruses exist in India even though they are currently recognized to occur only in South and Central America or in Africa respectively.