SEROLOGICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY OF REOVIRUS INFECTION (1 REPORT)

Antibodies against reovirus types 1, 2 and 3 were detected in dogs, swine, race-horses, and wild rats at certain rates for each serotype of the virus. Judged from the results of our serological examinations in those animals, each species of animal seems to have its own epidemiologic characteristic more or less for each of the three serotypes. There seem to be two groups of mammals according to their epidemiological behavior to the reovirus infection. In one of the groups, the infection is established in a considerably early period from birth, for instance in swine, while in the other group animals become infected in a much more delayed time and a considerable portion of them remain uninfected till a long time after birth, as in the case of dogs, horses, or wild rats. In wild rats, an epidemiological wave was recognized as judged by a sudden appearance of reovirus antibodies in a herd.