Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology

Ever since arbovirus infections became known and their relative importance assessed, experiments were designed to elucidate the mode of transmission and the most important natural hosts responsible for perpetuating the infection in nature. Human infections and the disease in wild rodents, birds, and domestic animals were studied in relation to viremia and distribution of the infectious agent in the organism. With increasing epidemiological studies it became apparent that the neural manifestations of the disease are very uncommon, confined only to a small percentage of individuals of the most susceptible species. Various factors have been proposed to explain why in certain instances the virus becomes establish- ed in the central nervous system and causes a serious or lethal disease. For example, differences in the virulence of the virus strains, varying susceptibility of individuals of one species, or intercurrent circumstances facilitating access of the virus to the central nervous system were alleged. Also, various possible routes of entry of the virus into the brain and spinal cord have been considered.