Leslie P Spence

Isolation of Ilhéus virus from human beings in Trinidad, West Indies

Abstract Three strains of Ilheus virus were isolated from human beings in Trinidad. One of these isolations was made from a female resident of Port-of-Spain who suffered a severe febrile illness. The other two strains were isolated from mosquito catchers who worked in the forests of eastern Trinidad. One of these men had a mild febrile illness at the time of the isolation, and the other was in good health. The serological reactions in these three cases of Ilheus infection are reported.

Bushbush, Ieri and Lukuni viruses, three unrelated new agents isolated from Trinidadian forest mosquitoes

Summary Seven virus strains, all isolated from forest mosquitoes collected in eastern Trinidad between 1955 and 1959, have been shown to represent 3 unrelated new viruses, designated Bushbush, Ieri and Lukuni. Neutralizing antibody to Lukuni virus has been demonstrated in human serum. No relationship has been found between either Bushbush or Ieri virus and recognized arboviruses, but Lukuni virus has been found to be related to Anopheles A virus in complement-fixation and neutralization tests. Some of the biological properties of the 3 viruses are described. The technical assistance of Fitzroy James, Shaima Ali, Harold Drysdale, Raymond Manuel, Desmond Seupersad and Enrique Preddie is gratefully acknowledged.