First isolation of a South American strain of eastern equine virus from a case of encephalitis in Trinidad

ABSTRACT

A South American strain of Eastern Equine virus was isolated from a fatal human case of encephalitis for the first time in Trinidad in 1970. This virus was recovered from the blood and brain of the patient. Validity of the isolate was confirmed by reisolation of the virus from the original materials. The etiological relationship of the virus to patient's illness was established by the demonstration of a secroconversion to the isolate and to the TRVL prototype strain of Eastern Equine virus. A second case of human encephalitis occurred a week later in the same geogrphical area. No virus was isolated but the diagnosis was made on the basis of an immunoconversion. (Summary)