EXPERIMENTAL COMBINED VIRAL AND BACTERIAL INFECTION (INFLUENZA C AND HEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE, TYPE B) IN EMBRYONATED EGGS

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Abstract
A com-parative study was made of the effect of infection of embryonated eggs with influenza C virus only, Hemophilus influenzae, type b only and with H. influenzae, type b superimposed 24 hours after initiation of influenza C infection. The virus infection was established by intra-amniotic injection on the 14th day of incubation, the bacterial infection in the same manner on the 15th day. Judged by the death rate, the establishment of bacteriemia, and inflammatory lesions detected microscopically, the preceding viral infection had a profound enhancing effect on the incidence and severity of the bacterial infection. In the virus infected embryo conditions appear to be much more favorable to the selective survival and rapid growth of the virulent members of the bacterial inoculum. The more exact nature of the physical and nutritional factors favorable to the enhancement of bacterial virulence in the virus infected host remains to be determined.