Growth of Influenza Virus in Eggs in the Presence of Bacterial Contamination and Streptomycin. ∗

Abstract

Conclusions

1. Streptomycin appears to have no adverse effect on the 10- to 11-day chick embryo when injected into the allantoic sac.

2. Streptomycin is demonstrable in bac-teriostatic or bactericidal concentrations in the allantoic fluid 48 hours after a single injection of 2,500 units into the allantoic sac. Only small amounts appear in the amniotic fluid.

3. Streptomycin in the concentrations used appeared to have no adverse effect on the growth of either Influenza A or B virus in the allantoic sac.

4. Streptomycin is highly effective in preventing gross contamination of allantoic fluids of chick embryos injected with un-filtered throat washings and suspensions of human stool.

5. Influenza A virus, when highly diluted and mixed with unfiltered throat washings or stool suspensions containing added streptomycin, can be readily recovered after growth in the allantoic sac of the developing chick embryo.

6. The results indicate that the loss of virus which may follow removal of contaminants by filtration may be avoided by the addition of streptomycin to unfiltered specimens derived from animals or man. After growth in the chick embryo, the virus may then be recovered free from contamination by filtration if necessary.