STUDIES OF THE FATE OF TYPE 1 POLIOVIRUSES IN FLIES

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Abstract
The LSc and the Mahoney strains of poliovirus have been fed to Phormia regina and Musca domestica flies. When flies were kept at 23[degree]C their carcasses and feces contained polio-viruses for 11 days after feeding. When the flies were kept in hibernation at 8[degree]C they carried infectious virus for at least three months after feeding. If the flies were exposed to a temperature of 36[degree]C several hours a day after receiving virus the titer of both carcasses and feces decreased for 9 hours but showed an increase between 12 and 24 hours. The peak titers at the time of this increase never exceeded significantly the amount of virus that had been fed, but were definitely higher than titers in the intervening period. The increase may be attributed either to multiplication of the small fraction of virus fed which was not excreted directly or to temporary masking of a portion of the virus ingested.