THE ECOLOGY OF ENTEROVIRUSES IN ALASK.-! 



Karl R, Reinhard 



Division of Research Grants 



National Institutes of Health 



Bethesda 14, Maryland 



.VBSTHACT 



The paper considers the following factors; effects of various physical and chemical 

 environments on enteroviruses, the mechanism of enteroviral infections, the carrier 

 state in convalescent and immune individuals, and northern ethnic and social pat- 

 terns. The background information on the natural history of the enteroviruses is 

 piecemeal. Facts may be drawn from diverse works such as the virology of water 

 and sewage treatment, interferon and the inapparent persistence of viruses in hosts, 

 epidemiological episodes of enterovirus infections, the effects of cold climates on 

 community anfi household hygiene and sanitation, serological and cultural studies 

 of enterovirus ecology, and morbidity and mortality statistics on northern popula- 

 tions. The author attempts to discern, through this piecemeal evidence, the major 

 determinants of enterovirus ecology in northern areas. 



The principal objective of this discussion will be the develop- 

 ment of concepts about the natural history of enteroviral infections 

 within the context of the general theme which deals with the in- 

 fluence of cold on host-parasite relationships. To explore ade- 

 quately the relationship between arctic peoples and their environ- 

 ments and the enteroviruses, we must borrow from such diverse 

 fields as virology, sanitary engineering, meteorology, anthropologyj 

 archaeology, epidemiology, and the more general aspects of natural 

 sciences. This brief discussion does not allow an exhaustive treat- 

 ment of all of these, but if some of the larger issues are clarified, 

 the author's hopes will be fulfilled. 



The large Enterovirus group is comprised of particulate agents 

 which are commonlyrecoverablefrom the human and animal gastro- 

 intestinal tract. These viruses have a ribonucleic acid core; are 

 about 28 millimicrons m diameter; are pathogenic for primates, 

 suckling mice or certain t3qDes of mammalian cell tissue culture; 

 and are stabilized by cations against thermal inactivation (Com- 

 mittee on Enteroviruses, 1962). In this group are the polioviruses, 



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