Arbovirus infections in Dutch military personnel stationed in Surinam: further studies

ABSTRACT

Serum specimens of Dutch military personnel were taken immediately after arrival in Surinam and again, one year later, just prior to departure. A total of 500 paired serum specimens covering the period February 1962-1964 were received at the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory. Screening HIV tests were done with 5 group A antigens, 1 group B antigen, 4 group C antigens and 1 Bunyamwera group antigen (Cache Valley). A total of 34 converters were found with antigens prepared from Trinidadian and Surinamese Venezuelan equine encephalitis strains. With Mayaro antigen 7 converters were found. Sera positive to Una and Paramaribo virus antigens were positive to Mayaro also with the highest titer to the latter antigen. With Caraparu antigens 14 converters were found, with Restan antigen 17 and with antigen of a Surinamese Oriboca strain 8. No conversions were discovered with an antigen prepared with a Trinidadian Oriboca strain. An additional five serum pairs showed conversions with more than one of the group C antigens. With St. Louis encephalitis antigen not more than 5 serum pairs showed conversion. With Cache Valley antigen conversion was found in only one serum pair. The data indicate that infections with VEE, Mayaro and the group C agents tended to occur in small epidemics (AU)