The Toxicity of Influenza Viruses

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Abstract
Intraperit. injn. of certain allantoic fluids infected with various strains of influenza virus caused the death of some mice with characteristic lesions within 16-72 hrs. These results were due to influenza virus since bacterial exam. of peritoneal fluid, liver and heart''s blood was negative. Pathogens isolated from the intestines killed mice on intraperit. injn. but these animals did not have characteristic lesions. Most virus strains showed toxicity which was demonstrable usually with undiluted or at most 4-fold diluted allantoic fluids only. Such fluids infected with the F-12 and F-99 strains of influenza A and the S-15 strain of porcine influenza were most toxic. The toxic activity did not closely parallel any of the known properties of influenza virus. Toxicity was a transitory property of the virus. The toxic principle behaved in every other respect like the influenza viruses. Only active virus gave the toxic effect. Influenza virus appeared to exert a toxic effect on various organs, although it could propagate only in the respiratory tract of the mouse.