Discussion 



The sampling in this current Georgia group occurred 1 year after a peak of infection was observed. There was a 

 better chance of finding antibodies in animals with longer life cycles than in animals with short life cycles. 



New Jersey VS outbreaks occurred in Texas cattle and horses during periods of high cotton rat density in 1949 

 and 1959 (1, 11). There are reports of sudden decreases of cotton rat density and the finding of dead carcasses 

 (1, 8). From our work with cotton rats (unpublished) it appears likely that death would occur following infection 

 with NJ type VS so few survivors would be found with antibodies to the virus. It is not known if cotton rats become 

 infected with New Jersey type VS in nature. This information would be helpful in establishing or eliminating New 

 Jersey VS as a cause of cotton rat die-offs. Observations concerning rodent die-offs or their population density 

 before and after VS outbreaks would be helpful in determining their role, if any, in VS epizootiology. 



All of the animals in which New Jersey type antibodies were found in this current study were semi-arboreal 

 and eat plants as part of their diet. In addition the opossums and raccoons eat carrion and small wildlife. It appears 

 that the raccoons and opossums could be infected by eating carrion or infected rodents, reptiles or other forms of. 

 wildlife. Squirrels, one of which was positive, have arboreal habits and their diet consists of nuts, plants and a few 

 insects. An arthropod source of infection must be considered for this positive squirrel. 



Hanson and Karstad (5) found New Jersey type VS antibodies in 35 (45 percent) of 77 raccoons collected 

 about 1955 in southern Georgia. Raccoons inoculated experimentally by Hanson and Brandley (4) developed 

 subclinical infections. New Jersey type VS antibodies were also found in the serums of 3 (37 percent) of 8 bobcats, 

 46 (79 percent) of 58 feral swine, and 12 (60 percent) of 20 deer. New Jersey VS has been diagnosed in Georgia 

 livestock during the years 1952 - 1959. Our findings of VS antibodies in opossums in general parallels findings in 

 Panama. Tesh (13) in Panama found NJ neutralizing antibodies in 8 of 160 common opossums (Didelphis 

 marsupialis) and antibodies in 16/272 other genera of opossums not found in the United States; 20 raccoons were 

 negative for NJ type VS antibody. Srihongse (12) reported finding Indiana type antibodies in 7 of 40 common 

 opossums but did not list New Jersey tests. Indiana type VS is endemic and predominant in Panamanian tropical 

 jungle areas which do not contain livestock. The ecology of the two virus types appears to be different. 



REFERENCES 



1. Blair, W. F. 1952. Mammals of the Tamaulipan Biotic Province in Texas. Texas J. Sci. June 30, 230-250. 



2. Geleta, J. N. and A. A. Holbrook. 1961 Vesicular Stomatitis - Patterns of Complement-Fixing and 

 Serum-Neutralizing Antibodies in Serum of Convalescent Cattle and Horses. Am. J. Vet. Res. 22: 713-719. 



3. Hanson, R. P. 1952. The Natural History of Vesicular Stomatitis. Bacteriol. Rev. 16: 179-204. 



4. . and C. A. Brandley. 1957. Fpizootiology of Vesicular Stomatitis. Am. J. Public Health 47: 



205-209. 



5. , and L. Karstad. 1958. Feral Swine as a Reservoir of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus in 



Southeastern United States. Proc. 62nd Annual Meeting U.S. Livestock San. Assoc. 309-315. 



6. Jenney, E. W. 1967. Vesicular Stomatitis in the United States During the Last Five Years (1963 - 1967). Proc. 

 71st Ann. Mtg. U.S. Livestock San Assoc: 371-385. 



7. , and C. L. Brown. 1973. Surveillance for Vesicular Stomatitis in the United States - January, 



1968 through July, 1972: Proc. 76th Ann. Mtg. U.S. Animal Health Assn., 183-193. 



8. Meyer, B. J. and R. K. Meyer. 1944. Growth and Reproduction of the Cotton Rat, Sigmodon hispidus 

 hispidus, Under Laboratory Conditions. J. Mamm. 25: 107-129. 



9. Meyer, N. L. et al. 1960. Outbreaks of Vesicular Stomatitis in Oklahoma and Texas. Proc. 64th Ann. Mtg. U.S. 

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10. Report of the Committee on Foreign Animal Diseases. 1972. United States Animal Health Assoc, Proc. 75th 

 Ann. Mtg. U.S. Animal Health Assn.: 209-220. 



11. Seay, L. and R. Zirkle. 1968. Personal Communication. 



12. Srihonse, S. 1969. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Infections in Panamanian Primates and Other Vertebrates. Am. J. 

 Epid. 90: 69-76. 



13. Tesh, R. B., P. H. Peralta, and K. M. Johnson. 1969. Ecological Studies of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus 1. 

 Prevalence of Infection Among Animals and Humans Living in an Area of Endemic VSV Activity. Am. J. 

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49 



