APPLICATION OF THE IMMUNODIFFUSION PROCEDURE TO RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF ARBOVIRUSES AND TO DETECTION OF SPECIFIC ANTIBODY IN SENTINEL ANIMALS

Papadopoulos, O., R. O. Anslow (Dept. Veterinary Science, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. 53706) and R. P. Hanson. Application of the immunodiffusion procedure to rapid identification of arboviruses and to detection of specific antibody in sentinel animals. Amer. J. Epid., 1970, 92: 145–150.—The Ouchterlony method of immunodiffusion employing mouse brain as viral antigen and ascitic fluids from hyperimmunized mice as antibody was used to identify 41 isolates. Nineteen of the isolates were identified using crude brain preparations from the first or second mouse passage. The procedure was sufficiently sensitive to identify 4 antigenically distinct viruses of the California group (Jamestown Canyon, LaCrosse, snowshoe hare, and trivittatus), to identify Bunyamwera group virus isolates, and to identify a Silverwater virus isolate. The procedure was employed successfully to detect and identify antibody to California viruses in sentinel rabbits but not in sera of trapped squirrels.