Serological studies on infections by respiratory viruses of the inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha

Sera were obtained from about half of the Tristan da Cunha islanders on reaching Cape Town in October 1961, a few months after reaching Britain and before returning to the Island in 1963. After vaccination against current influenza A 2 and B serotypes antibodies were evoked against earlier serotypes, in particular against influenza A1 of 1951 with which the islanders had almost certainly been infected. Those who failed to develop antibody against A 2 and B after vaccination developed it later presumably owing to natural infection. Almost all islanders developed antibodies against parainfluenza 3 and 1 and some against parainfluenza 2 and coxsackie A 21 viruses. There were no antibody rises against reoviruses.