The Japanese encephalitis patients of Okayama Prefecture in 1968 were less, and the median date of epidemic time curve was later in coming than in 1965-1967. In order to clarify this fact, variation of the level of HI and 2-ME sensitive antibodies in the serum of swine, canine, bovine and inhabitants were measured every week in summer of 1968, and the relationship between these seasonal variation of antibody level and the seasonal outbreak of patients were examined. By comparing these findings with those in 1965-1967, the following results were obtained.
1) In both northern and southern parts of Okayama Prefecture in 1968 year, the respective date showing 50 per cent positive HI reaction and 2-ME sensitive reaction (D. 50% pos. HI and D. 50% 2-ME in short) in swine were 3 weeks later respectively than in 1965-1967.
2) In canine of southern part of Okayama Prefecture and bovine of northern part, D. 50% pos. 2-ME was later in coming, and the positive rate of 2-ME sensitive reaction also was lower than that of the previous year.
3) In inhabitants also, of both parts of the prefecture, D. 50% pos. 2-ME was more later in coming, and the positive rate of 2-ME sensitive reaction was also lower than in 1965-1967, that is, inhabitants received inapparent infection later and the rate of receiving inapparent infection was lower than in 1965-1967.
4) The median date of the epidemic time curve of the prefecture in 1968 was later in coming than usual and also the morbility incidence rate showed its lower value than usual.
From the results above mentioned, we could prove immunologically the following; transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus by mosquitoes, from swine as amplifire or other animals as the source of infection to various kinds of animals was later seasonally and smaller in quantity than usual, and also inapparent infection to inhabitants was later in date and the infection rate was lower, and correspondingly the prevalence of the epidemic was more later in coming and the morbidity incidence rate was lower than usual.
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