Characterization of Mount Elgon Bat virus, a new member of the Rhabdovirus group

Frederick A. Murphy, Robert E. Shope, D. Metselaar, D. I.H. Simpson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mount Elgon Bat (MEB) virus, an isolate from a Rhinolophus hildebrandtii eloquens (K. Anderson) bat from Kenya, was examined by negative contrast and thin-section electron microscopy. It was found in infected mouse brain tissue to be bullet-shaped with structural details similar to other viruses of the Rhabdovirus group. Virus particles had a mean length of 226 nm and were 68 nm in diameter. The internal helically wound cylinder consisted of a single strand approximately 10 nm in diameter. In mouse brain, virus maturation occurred upon plasma membranes; viral matrix or inclusion material was in many cases located in the cytoplasm beneath sites of viral budding. The matrix consisted of convoluted filaments or strands. Complement-fixation, neutralization, and immunodiffusion tests comparing MEB virus with all the known Rhabdoviruses of animals failed to show any cross-reactivity. The described characteristics form the basis for considering MEB as an antigenically distinct member of the Rhabdovirus group.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)288-297
Number of pages10
JournalVirology
Volume40
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1970
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Virology

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