THE VIRUS OF INCLUSION CONJUNCTIVITIS

Abstract

The virus etiology of the nonbacterial conjunctivitis of the newborn known as inclusion blennorrhea (Lindner¹) was confirmed in a former report ;² in this paper evidence was presented to indicate that the basophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (Stargardt³ ) were virus colonies similar to those in psittacosis⁴ and of the same general nature as those in vaccinia-variola,⁵ f owlpox,⁶ molluscum contagiosum⁷ and infectious ectromelia.⁸ Bacteria-free filtrates were infective, and infectivity was shown to be dependent on the presence of elementary bodies. The etiologic identity of inclusion blennorrhea and the nontrachomatous inclusion diseases of the adult (inclusion conjunctivitis and swimming pool conjunctivitis) was accepted on the basis of evidence derived from transmission experiments. INCLUSION BLENNORRHEA Observations have been made in 8 additional cases of inclusion blennorrhea, bringing the total number to 19 cases. Five of the babies were delivered in the hospital, while the