Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T05:51:00.982Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A note on two attenuated strains of myxoma virus isolated in Great Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

Paul J. Chapple  and
E. T. W. Bowen
Paul J. Chapple
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Infestation Control Laboratory, Worplesdon, Surrey
E. T. W. Bowen
Affiliation:
Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, Wilts.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Two strains of myxoma virus isolated from naturally infected wild rabbits have been described. They showed similar clinical symptoms, the most striking feature being the flat primary lesion. In fifteen rabbits the Brecon strain gave a mean survival time of 26·3 days with a range of 17–47 days, and one recovery. Of 5 rabbits inoculated with the Durham strain three became clinically infected and two remained healthy, the latter were found to be fully susceptible on reinoculation. The three infected rabbits all recovered.

The field strains of virus were compared with known myxoma strains—Glenfield, Cornwall, A & H and KM 13. The first three are fully virulent, while KM 13 is attenuated and characteristic of the field strains now being isolated in Australia. The similarity between the clinical symptoms and mean survival time of KM 13 and the Brecon strain was noted.

It is suggested that the two field strains described in this paper may be the first indication that the evolution of myxoma virus in this country is similar to the evolution of the virus in Australia.

One of us (P.J.C.) is greatly indebted to the Director for allowing this work to be carried out at M.R.E. whilst laboratory accomodation was being prepared at Worplesdon. We are grateful for the help and encouragement of Dr J. C. N. Westwood of M.R.E. To Prof. F. Fenner who gave us the Australian strains of myxoma virus and to Mr J. H. Darbyshire of the Central Veterinary Laboratory who supplied the tissues from which the two attenuated strains were isolated, we extend our thanks.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 61 , Issue 2 , June 1963 , pp. 161 - 168
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1963

References

Andrewes, C. H. & Harisijades, S. (1955). The propagation of myxoma virus in 1-day-old mice. Brit. J. exp. Path. 36, 18.Google Scholar
Andrewes, C. H., Muirhead-Thomson, R. C. & Stevenson, J. P. (1956). Laboratory studies of Anopheles atroparvus in relation to myxomatosis. J. Hyg., Camb., 54, 478.Google ScholarPubMed
Andrewes, C. H., Thompson, H. V. & Mansi, W. (1959). Myxomatosis: Present position and future prospects in Great Britain. Nature, Lond., 184, 1179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clarke, W. M. (1938). The Determination of Hydrogen Ions, 3rd ed., p. 124. London: Ballière, Tindall and Cox.Google Scholar
Fenner, F. (1962). Personal communication.Google Scholar
Fenner, F. & Marshall, I. D. (1955). Occurrence of attenuated strains of myxoma virus in Europe. Nature, Lond., 176, 782.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fenner, F. & Marshall, I. D. (1957). A comparison of the virulence for European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of strains of myxoma virus recovered in the field in Australia, Europe and America. J. Hyg., Camb., 55, 149.Google ScholarPubMed
Marshall, I. D. (1959). The influence of the ambient temperature on the course of myxomatosis in rabbits. J. Hyg., Camb., 57, 484.Google ScholarPubMed
Mykytowycz, R. (1956). The effect of season and mode of transmission on the severity of myxomatosis due to an attenuated strain of the virus. Aust. J. exp. Biol. med. Sci., 34, 121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, R. F. & Thompson, R. L. (1942). The effect of external temperature on the course of infectious myxomatosis in rabbits. J. exp. Med. 75, 567.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Westwood, J. C. N., Phipps, P. H. & Boulter, E. A. (1957). The titration of vaccinia virus on the chorio-allantoic membrane of the developing chick embryo. J. Hyg., Camb., 55, 123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar