Hemagglutination by Columbia SK, Columbia MM, Mengo Encephalomyelitis and Encephalomyocarditis Viruses: Experiments with Other Viruses.

Abstract

The Columbia SK, Columbia MM, Mengo encephalomyelitis and encephalomyocarditis viruses agglutinate sheep RBC. It is possible, therefore, to identify these viruses by means of hemagglutination, and to measure the antibody content of antisera. The uniformity of the hemagglutination reaction shown by the 4 viruses and the cross-inhibition that exists among them indicate that they belong to the same group. 17 other neurotropic viruses were tested for their capacity to agglutinate characteristically RBC from man (O type), sheep'', chicken, horse, hamster, dog, cat, and guinea pig, but none showed agglutination. Other phenomena relating to non-specific agglutination of dog, cat, and guinea pig RBC by normal and virus-infected mouse brains are reported; also the presence of an inhibitor of agglutination of hamster cells in normal mouse brain and normal serum and antiserum.