Isolation of Bhanja virus from ticks in Yugoslavia

Two strains of Bhanja (BHA) virus, an ungrouped arbovirus, were isolated from Haemaphysalis punctata ticks collected from sheep on the island of Brac in the Yugoslavian Adriatic. Serologic testing gave evidence of the endemicity of BHA virus on the island, and antibody prevalence rates were high for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 26; no. 5 Pt 1; p. 1003
Main Authors Vesenjak-Hirjan, J, Calisher, C H, Brudnjak, Z, Tovornik, D, Skrtic, N, Lazuick, J S
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.1977
Subjects
Animals
Antibodies, Viral
Arboviruses - immunology
Arboviruses - isolation & purification
Humans
Mice
Rats
Sheep - immunology
Ticks - microbiology
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
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Summary:Two strains of Bhanja (BHA) virus, an ungrouped arbovirus, were isolated from Haemaphysalis punctata ticks collected from sheep on the island of Brac in the Yugoslavian Adriatic. Serologic testing gave evidence of the endemicity of BHA virus on the island, and antibody prevalence rates were high for both man (35.8%--ranging locally to 61.3%) and sheep (100%). No antibody was found in 82 small mammals tested. Evidence of a natural cycle involving ticks and sheep, the potential significance of this virus for man and for animals of agricultural importance, and factors related to its epidemiology are discussed.
ISSN:0002-9637
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.1003