Neuraminidase Activity of a Bovine Strain of Parainfluenza 3 Virus

Abstract

IN a discussion of the taxonomic implications of the term “myxovirus”, it has been suggested that it is the property of myxophily and not morphology which establishes a true member of the myxovirus group of viruses. It was further suggested that some bovine strains of parainfluenza 3 (PI 3) virus lack the enzyme neuraminidase and that, because their relation with mucoprotein is limited to attachment (that is, they do not elute), they should not be considered as myxoviruses but rather as pseudomyxo-viruses¹. It has also been suggested elsewhere that bovine strains of PI 3 virus do not possess neuraminidase². We have been unable to trace any published evidence to support these suggestions. During the course of an investigation into the role of PI 3 virus in the aetiology of bovine respiratory disease, one of us (P. S. D.) considered that both adsorption to and elution from guinea-pig erythrocytes occurred in the haemagglutination reaction with bovine strains of the virus. This is supported by other work³. The present report describes briefly some experiments made to test the neuraminidase activity of a bovine strain of PI 3 virus.