National Institute of Virology, Sus Road, Pashan, Pune-411021, India.
Chandipura virus, an arbovirus belonging to the family Rhabdoviridae, has caused outbreaks of encephalitis with high mortality in children from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The virus is known to be transmitted by Phlebotomine sandflies. In an effort to develop a vaccine against this dreaded virus, we have studied the effect of several compounds i.e., Formalin, BPL and Copper sulphate-Ascorbic acid mixture to inactivate the virus. Complete inactivation was achieved with Formalin (1:3500) and BPL (1:3500). Complete inactivation was achieved 48 hours and 105 minutes respectively with Formalin and BPL. Immunogenecity in Swiss albino mice was observed only with BPL inactivated material while formalin-inactivated material did not generate immune response. BPL-inactivated immunized mice sustained challenge dose of 100 PFU CHP virus by i.c. route giving protection in 85% mice. The virus could not be inactivated with Copper sulphate-Ascorbic acid mixture though it inactivated another rhabdo virus, i.e. rabies virus.
