Effect of “B” Virus (Strain No. 1) in the Syrian Hamster

Abstract

The â€oeB― virus (strain no. 1) was isolated from the spleen and central nervous system of patient B and maintained since the original isolation in 1932 by serial passage in rabbits. The virus is extremely pathogenic for rabbits by most routes of inoculation. Following intracutaneous injection, a hemorrhagic necrotic area develops around the site of inoculation. About one to two days before paralysis occurs, most rabbits exhibit a tendency to bite the local lesion (Sabin and Wright, 1934). The present study was undertaken to compare the sus ceptibility of Syrian hamsters exposed by various routes to the rabbit-adapted strain and mouse-adapted strain (Reagan et al., 1952) of the virus. METHODS