A TWO-YEAR RESPIRATORY VIRUS SURVEY IN FOUR VILLAGES IN WEST BENGAL, INDIA12

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Abstract
Kloene, W., F. B. Bang, S. M. Chakraborty, M. R. Cooper, H. Kulemann, M. Ota and K. V. Shah (Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Hygiene and Public Heahh, Baltimore, Md. 21205). A two-year respiratory virus survey in four villages in West Bengal, India. Amer. J. Epid., 1970, 92: 307–320.—A respiratory virus survey was carried out in four villages in an agricultural region near Calcutta from May 1, 1964 through April 30, 1966. Throat specimens were collected from the youngest child (under 5 years of age) of about 10% of the total number of families in each village at monthly intervals and processed in rhesus monkey kidney and HEp-2 cell cultures. During the two-year study period a total of 4,171 specimens were processed; 625 virus isolates were obtained, 483 of these were initial isolations. All common types of respiratory viruses were re-covered from the oropharynx of members of the study population at various times. Infections with the parainfluenza viruses types 1, 2, 3 and 4B, respiratory syncytial virus and adenoviruses types 3 and 6 occurred in sharply defined outbreaks. Whereas infections with the parainfluenza viruses types 1, 2, and 3, and respiratory syncytial virus were widely spread throughout the village areas, infections with parainfluenza virus type 4B and adenoviruses types 3 and 6 were limited in their geographic spread and showed a tendency to cluster. Adenoviruses types 1 and 2, and to a lesser extent type 5 were isolated almost continuously during the study period. Waves of increased recovery of adenoviruses types 1 and 2 were observed in some of the villages. Isolations of adeno- viruses types 1 and 2 were obtained from study children scattered over the whole study area, whereas those of adenovirus type 5 showed a tendency to cluster and were recovered from less than half of the study area. No seasonal influence on the prevalence of respiratory viruses was observed, with the possible exception of respiratory syncytial virus. The wide variety of respiratory viruses recovered during the study period, their spread through the study area, and the high incidence of infections with these viruses among members of the study population, reflect a high level of respiratory virus activity in village com-munities living under poor hygienic conditions in the hot climatic zone.

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