Arbovirus Complement Fixing Antibodies in Sera of Wildlife of West Central Utah

SummaryIn a survey for endemic diseases of the wildlife of West Central Utah, 9,100 serum samples were examined for the presence of complement fixing antibodies against 4 arboviruses; eastern (EEE), western (WEE), Venezuelan (VEE) and St. Louis (SLE) equine encephalomyelitis. Antibody titers of 1:16 or greater, with no cross reaction evident, were found in 6 specimens from 4 animal species against EEE, 57 from 9 species against VEE and 29 from 7 species and 89 from 10 species against WEE and SLE respectively. In addition to these reactors, 162 other serum samples were found to be positive with two or more of these arbo-virus antigens. Only WEE and SLE are known to be present in this region based upon known outbreaks and previous studies of others.We express gratitude to Peter Olsen and Everett Morse for collecting and processing the samples and to Doris Dickson for technical assistance.