Studies of arthropod-borne virus infections in Queensland. V. Survey of antibodies to group A arboviruses in man and other animals.

Abstract

SummaryAntibody to group A arboviruses reacting to higher titre to Ross River virus than to Getah, Bebaru or Sindbis viruses was found widespread in Queensland in man, horses, cattle, kangaroos and wallabies, and was shown to be present in goats, sheep, bandicoots, dogs and possibly in rats, but could not be demonstrated in wild or domestic birds. Infections of man with Ross River virus or a closely related agent were shown to have occurred on at least 4 occasions between 1957 and 1964 at Mitchell River Mission near the Gulf of Carpentaria.Many sera from man and other mammals reacted to Getah and Bebaru viruses by haemagglutination‐inhibition and neutralization tests, but in titres lower than to Ross River virus. Serum from 1 child from Brisbane, however, neutralized Getah virus but showed no evidence of antibody to Ross River virus. Many sera from domestic fowls inhibited haemagglutination by Getah virus but did not neutralize it, and were considered to contain a non‐antibody inhibitor unrelated to previous infection.Antibody to Sindhis virus was found in sera from wild and domestic birds from several areas in Queensland, in 3 sera from man (2 from Yarrabah and 1 from Brisbane), and rarely in sera from other mammals.