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EXPERIMENTS ON THE VISIBILITY OF THE POLYHEDRAL VIRUSES
1Department of Animal Pathology of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, N.J., and the Laboratories of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, New York.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Researchers found no visible particle differences in blood from wilt disease and grasserie cases compared to normal blood. This suggests the viruses causing these diseases may be invisible with current optical technology.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Microbiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Investigating the etiological agents of wilt disease and grasserie.
- Examining potential visible differences in blood particles between healthy and diseased states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if visible particulate differences exist in blood associated with wilt disease and grasserie.
- To assess the nature of the viruses responsible for these diseases using available optical methods.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative microscopic and ultramicroscopic examination of blood samples.
- Quantitative counting of visible particles in normal and diseased blood.
Main Results:
- No qualitative differences were detected between normal blood and blood from wilt disease or grasserie cases.
- Quantitative analysis of grasserie blood showed no significant difference in particle counts compared to normal blood.
- Current optical equipment suggests the viruses are likely invisible.
Conclusions:
- The viruses causing wilt disease and grasserie are likely invisible with the employed optical techniques.
- Further evidence is required to validate chlamydozoa or Borrellina as etiological agents.
- Each virus should be evaluated individually regarding its particulate nature.
