[Isolation of the Isfahan virus in Turkmenia]

Abstract

This is a first report on the isolation in the USSR of Isfahan virus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family. Two strains, T-200 and T-227, were isolated from a pool of 100 and 95 engorged Phlebotomus papatasi females collected in colonies of great gerbils in June and August, 1979, in the Kirov district, Turkmenia. According to the results of previous investigations, the human population and great gerbils in this areas were frequently found to have antibody to Isfahan virus. The strains were identified by complement fixation, indirect immunofluorescence, indirect hemagglutination tests and neutralization by the plaque reduction technique. The viruses are held by filters with pore diameter less than 100 nm, are destroyed by sodium deoxycholate, at the state of reproduction are not sensitive to 5-brom-2-deoxyuridine.