SUNDAY CANYON VIRUS, A NEW UNGROUPED AGENT FROM TICK ARGAS (A) COOLEYI IN TEXAS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 21  (1) , 36-+
Abstract
A new arbovirus was isolated from Texas, USA, populations of the Cliff Swallow [Petrochelidon pyrrhonota] parasite A. (A.) cooleyi Kohls and Hoogstraal, 1960. The virus, named Sunday Canyon, is serologically unrelated to any of 185 arbovirus strains or 20 other viral agents with which it was compared. Morphologically it resembles Bunyamwera viruses and, similarly, is sensitive to lipid solvents and acid pH, and apparently possesses RNA. Although considerably resistant to a temperature of 41.5.degree. C, it rapidly loses infectivity when incubated at 56.degree. C. It is lethal for newborn white mice and infective for the [African green monkey kidney] Vero and Antheraea eucalypti cell lines. Sunday Canyon virus is the 2nd tick-associated. Bunyamwera virus-like agent known from North America and the 3rd virus to be reported from A. cooleyi in Texas.