The effect of trachoma virus vaccine on the course of experimental trachoma infection in blind human volunteers.

The TRIC-Taiwan-1-1958 strain of elementary body virus isolated from a trachoma patient on Taiwan has been proven capable of reproducing trachoma by experimental inoculation of six human volunteers. Virus material derived from the seventh passage in embryonated hen eggs caused the clinical picture of trachoma in every inoculation, even at the dilution of 10(-4) of infected yolk sacs (approximately 1 EID(50)). There was a similar clinical picture with each inoculation beginning with an acute follicular conjunctivitis which progressed for 4 months and then persisted with chronic changes until 9 months when treatment was begun.

Bacteriological studies on trachomatous and normal persons from three areas on Taiwan.

A series of eye cultures was obtained in 1961 in three areas on Taiwan from both normal and trachomatous children. About one-half of the cultures were from clinical cases classified as being in one of the various trachomatous stages. The other half were from cases of normal or simple conjunctivitis.

Trachoma virus isolation studies on Taiwan.

Studies on trachoma have been carried out on Taiwan since 1958 by the US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 2. Routine methods for the collection of virus specimens, storage and processing of successful virus isolation are presented in this paper.