CORONA VIRUS‐LIKE PARTICLES IN ABORIGINALS AND NON‐ABORIGINALS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Abstract

Pleomorphic virus‐like particles which resemble coronaviruses in morphology were found in faecal specimens from Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children in Western Australia. They were equally prevalent in those with or without symptoms of diarrhoea. A much greater proportion of Aboriginal than non‐Aboriginal children were found to be excreting the particles. The proportion of children who excreted the virus‐like particles increased with age. Coronavirus‐like particles, indistinguishable from those found in humans, were found in a number of Aboriginals' dogs.