Clinical and Serologic Responses in Volunteers Given Vacuolating Virus (SV40) by Respiratory Route

Abstract

SV40 virus present as a contaminant in a pool of respiratory syncitial virus prepared in cultures of rhesus monkey kidney cells was inoculated by the respiratory route into 35 adult volunteers: 8 of these received SV40 virus preparation in which the RS virus component was neutralized by addition of RS antiserum. None of the test subjects developed signs or symptoms attributable to inhalation of SV40. SV40 virus was recovered from throat swab specimens of 3 of the volunteers 7 or 11 days after exposure. SV40 neutralizing antibody in titers ranging from 1:5 to 1:80 appeared in the blood of 22 of the 35 test subjects.