Cross-Neutralization Study of Seven California Group (Bunyaviridae) Strains in Homoiothermous (PS) and Poikilothermous (XTC-2) Vertebrate Cells

Arbovirus Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1 Antigenic relationships among seven California group strains were studied by a plaque-reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Cross-reactions occurred in most cases but three subgroups were noted: (1) the major serogroup contained the viruses of California encephalitis, LaCrosse, Snowshoe Hare and rahy a (including the Lumbo strain) whereas (2) Jamestown Canyon and (3) Trivittatus viruses were distinct. There was no significant difference between the PRNT results in mammalian (PS) cells incubated at 37 °C and amphibian (XTC-2) cells incubated at 28 °C. Trivittatus virus failed to produce plaques in XTC-2 cells. * Present address: Institute of Parasitology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, 166 32 Prague, Czechoslovakia. Received 22 June 1978; accepted 24 August 1978.