ARTHROPOD-BORNE VIRUS INFECTIONS OF ABORIGINES INDIGENOUS TO AUSTRALASIA. A PRELIMINARY REPORT.

Epidemics of presumed arthropod-borne virus infections have occurred over the years in the Australasian region but as yet little is known about the identity, distribution and frequency of occurrence of the viruses present. Therefore, beginning with specimens collected in 1956, a systematic sero-epidemiological study was undertaken to provide preliminary information on arthropod-borne virus infections of aborigines inhabiting parts of Australia, New Guinea, New Britain and islands of Micronesia and Melanesia. Distinctive antibody patterns are emerging which have important implications. For example, inhabitants of most coastal lowland regions studied gave evidence of a high incidence of infection with a multiplicity of group A and group B viruses. In New Guinea, dissociation between group A and group B viruses apparently occurs as altitude increases, with group B antibodies disappearing above about 1500 metres, while group A antibodies are still found at considerably higher altitudes. Circumscribed areas show unusual antibody patterns.