The effect of influenza vaccination on the circulation of viruses in the respiratory tract of apparently healthy schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years.

Virus isolation attempts were made with 500 nasopharyngeal secretion samples from apparently healthy schoolchildren aged 7-14 years, vaccinated by nasal route with an inactivated influenza vaccine and with 500 samples from unvaccinated schoolchildren of the same age. The number of virus isolates obtained was much smaller in the former than in the latter group (13 as against 50 virus isolates). The role of influenza vaccination in the protection of schoolchildren against respiratory tract infections is discussed.

Investigations on the circulation of viruses occurring in the respiratory tract of apparently healthy schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years.

A number of 92 viral agents could be isolated from 1,000 nasopharyngeal secretion samples collected from apparently healthy schoolchildren aged 7-14 years. The following viruses were identified, in decreasing order of frequency: 42 influenza A/USSR 90/77 (H1N1), 20 adeno-, 20 parainfluenza, 8 Coxsackie B1 and 2 herpes virus strains.

Extrarespiratory localizations of parainfluenza viruses.

Two hemagglutinating and hemadsorbant agents-serologically identified as parainfluenza viruses type 3-were isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of a 10-month-old infant with meningoencephalitis and from the urethral secretion of a male patient with nonbacterial urethritis. Parainfluenza virus antigens types 1, 2, and 3 were detected by indirect immunofluorescence reactions in cells exfoliated in the vagina of women with genital neoplasia or common gynecopathies.

Research on respiratory virus diseases performed in the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology.

The studies on respiratory virus diseases performed for 30 years in the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology approached various aspects of the ecology of inlfuenza and parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses and other respiratory viruses, including numerous experimental, fundamental, clinical and morphopathological investigations. Special attention was paid to specific influenza prophylaxis and to the preparation of an inactivated influenza vaccine applicable by nasal and oral route.