Isolation of Getah virus from racehorse in Korea

국내(國內) 경주마(競走馬)에서의 Getah 바이러스 분리(分離) 동정(同定)

Getah virus is known as a causative agent of recognized febrile illness of horses characterized by fever, rash and edema. A serological survey indicated that hemagglutination inhibition antibody against Getah virus was detected in 34% of 464 racehorses from Korean Horse Affairs Association and 57% of 262 ponies from Cheju island, respectively. Several field strains of Getah virus isolated were from the racehorse that have been shown fever and febrile signs in 1989. The field isolates produced cytopathic effect in Vero, MA-104, BHK-21 cell cultures. Especially, they multiplied to the highest titer($10^6TCID_{50}/0.1ml$) in Vero cell cultures. When day-old mice were inoculated with field isolates by the intracerebral route, they showed a typical paralysis sign and died within seven days after inoculation. The guinea pig exhibited skin rash and edema, and died with neural signs after inoculation with the field isolates. In the cross neutralization test and indirect immunofuorescent assay, the field isolates were proved to be closely related to the Sakai strain of Getah virus antigenically.