310 
Another peripheral neuropathy had a large component of posterior column disease* 
One patient with peripheral neuropathy had, in association, cerebellar signs, 
dementia and a long history of seizures. One of the most common complaints of 
the islanders was lower back pain, probably reflecting the severe spondylosis 
caused by physical labor. Several patients with sensory and motor 
radiculopathies, probably secondary to cervical spondylosis, were seen. 
Certain diseases were noticeable by their absence. As has been recognized 
in the past, multiple sclerosis is rare in the tropics and no case was found. 
Only one patient with a cerebrovascular accident was seen, reflecting the 
relative low incidence of artriosclerotic disease and hypertension on these 
islands. No focus of neurological disease was seen; in particular, amyotrophic 
lateral sclerosis, parkinsonism-dementia and kuru-like or other tremor syndromes 
were not encountered, and no reports of familial periodic paralysis-like 
disease, such as have been found on Tongariki Island in the Shepherd Islands, 
New Hebrides. 
III. Seroepidemiological Investigations for Viral, Reckettsial, Bacterial, 
Mycotic, Protozoal and Helminthic Diseases and Virus Isolations 
Sera were collected from three thousand subjects, or over 60% of the 
population of the islands intensively studied. On islands given our particular 
attention, such as Anuta and Merig, over 90% of the population was bled. Over 
the course of several years the sera will be investigated for a wide variety of 
infectious disease antibodies. Techniques of complement fixation, 
hemagglutination Inhibition, fluorescent antibody, neutralization, indirect 
hemadsorption inhibition, and agglutination will be used to identify viral and 
rickettsial antibodies. Appropriate antibody tests for infection with various 
specific protozoa, bacteria, helminths, and fungi will be conducted. Age 
incidence of acquisition of immunity or of first contact with each microbe will 
be plotted to increase our understanding of the pattern of spread of infectious 
diseases in these population isolates. 
Particular attention will be given to arbovirus infections in view of the 
simple ecology of these islands, and the paucity of species of natural hosts and 
vector which are to be found. Continuation of our studies on the mode of 
transmission of toxoplasmosis will be major interest. Since none of the people 
have had contact with monkeys or vaccines prepared in monkey tissue cultures, 
the antibody survey of these populations for antibodies to the Simian viruses is 
of particular significance. Antibody patterns to the various papovaviruses 
isolated from human brain of patients with progressive multifocal 
leukoencephalopathy (SV40, J-C virus, and the related BK virus) to determine the 
frequency and age incidence of contact with these agents as possible clues to 
their epidemiology in man will be quickly determined. Similarly, in view of the 
importance to our understanding of the carrier state for herpes viruses in man, 
and the possible role of these agents in the genesis of cancer and other chronic 
disease, antibody acquisition patterns for herpes hominis types 1 and 2, 
Epstei-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and varicella and herpes zoster will be 
determined. Australian antigen and Australian antigen antibody will be 
determined, and also antibody response to respiratory syncytial virus and the 
kuru foamy viruses of man, chimpnazees, monkeys, and non-primates. 
