Cross-linked poly(N-benzyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide) (BVP resin) was found to be very efficient in removing pathogenic human viruses from aqueous solution. In batch removal experiments using 50 g/1 of BVP resin at 35 °C. the level of infectivity in suspensions of enterovirus. herpes simplex virus, poliovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus was reduced 1000–100000 fold during a 2 h period. Those of coxsackievirus and echovirus were reduced 60–600 fold during 1 h contact. The haemagglutination titres of solutions of human rotavirus, influenza virus, human adenovirus. and Japanese encephalitis virus were reduced 16–256 fold during 30 min of contact. In removal experiments by a continuous flow column method for poliovirus. enterovirus. and coxsackievirus with initial infectivities of less than 105/ml, the infectivity of these viruses was no longer detectable in the effluent solution. For poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and echovirus with initial infectivities higher than 106, 99·8–99·9998% of the input viruses was removed as indicated by the reduction of infectivity.

An extensive serological survey for rinderpest antibody in wildlife, principally buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and sheep and goats has been undertaken in the previously endemic region of Northern Tanzania to determine whether or not the virus has continued to cycle in susceptible species since the last occurrence of overt disease in 1982. The results show that infection but not disease has occurred at least until 1987 in buffalo in parts of the Serengeti National Park but not in the other game areas of Tanzania where samples were taken. Sero-positive sheep and goats were widely distributed and have been found in 10 of the 14 districts sampled but there have been no reports of disease. These findings bring into question the possibility of eradicating the disease from Africa and continuous annual monitoring of this and other similar ecological zones will be required.

This paper describes the first isolations of African horse sickness virus (AHSV) from insects in Spain. Seven isolations of AHSV serotype 4 were made; four from Culicoides imicola a known vector of the virus elsewhere, two from mixed pools of Culicoides species not including C. imicola and one from blood engorged mosquitoes. Three further isolations of AHSV serotype 4 were also made from horses kept adjacent to the insect collecting sites.

This work presents the first definitive identification of the vectors of AHSV in Spain during the 1987, 88 and 89 epizootics. Suggestions are also made concerning the significance of these findings with regard to the epidemiology of African horse sickness in Spain.