Wesselsbron virus - a virus not previously described, associated with abortion in domestic animals

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Weiss, K.E.
Haig, D.A.
Alexander, R.A.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Published by The Government Printer, Pretoria

Abstract

1. There has been isolated from a lamb a pantropic virus with neurotropic properties and a well-marked affinity for embryonic tissue. 2. In the field the vectors are mosquitoes which have yet to be identified accurately. 3. In sheep infection with the virus causes a febrile reaction after a short incubation period of about one to four days, the mortality rate not being high. Pregnant ewes may abort during the febrile reaction in which case virus could not be isolated from the foetuses. Subsequently the virus invades the foetus causing death usually with abortion. The mortality amongst foetuses carried to full term and new-born lambs is very high (practically 100%). New born lambs suckling reacting ewes did not become infected by contact with the reacting ewe. 4. In addition to sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, mice, rabbits, guinea-pigs and man are susceptible. 5. Infant and adult mice are equally susceptible to intracerebral inoculation, the mortality being 100%. Infant mice are fully susceptible to intraperitoneal infection but in adult mice the reaction is at most inapparent.

Description

The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 300dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format.

Keywords

Veterinary medicine

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Weiss, KE, Haig, DA & Alexander, RA 1956, 'Wesselsbron virus - a virus not previously described, associated with abortion in domestic animals', Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 183-195.