Isolations of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis Virus from Mosquitoes (Culiseta melanura) Collected in New Jersey, 1953.

Abstract

Isolations of Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus were made from 2 of 11 pools of Culiseta melanura (Coquillett) mosquitoes trapped in southern New Jersey in 1953. A 3rd recovery of the virus was made from a pool of incompletely identified mosquitoes probably containing C. melanura. Negative results were obtained from similar attempts to isolate virus from more abundant species of mosquitoes and other arthropods collected concurrently. All arthropods were obtained from 3 farms on which ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) were reared. The collection period, August 29 to September 9, coincided with the early stage of an EEE epizootic in each of the 3 pheasant flocks. EEE viruses were also recovered from naturally infected English sparrows (Passer domesticus domesticus) and diseased pheasants found on the 3 farms during the epizootic period.