Isolation of an Apparently New Virus from Two Fatal Pneumonia Cases

Abstract

New and identical viruses were isolated from 2 fatal cases of pneumonia by inoculation of mice intranasally with a suspension of the lung tissues. This produced consolidation of the lungs and congestion of the spleen, liver and mesenteric glands. Subcut, injn. killed about 8% of the mice. Intracerebral inoculation caused encephalitis. The virus readily passed through Berkefeld N or W filters. Immunol. tests showed that this "Illinois" virus differed from the psittacosis, ornithosis and menin-gopneumonitis viruses.