38
cent years. However,the total absence of antibodies even in persons over 40 suggests the pos-
centage in any subjects, either exposed or unexposed, in the 1959 and 1960 surveys, except for
sibility that it has not occurred in this population
at all, but the first interpretation is equally good.
The same comments would refer to the CA virus
or parainfluenza 2, but here the morelikely inter-
Appendix 5.
suggest that it had been present 16 or more years
earlier. Since there is some overlap in antigens and
antibodies between mumpsandthe parainfluenza
group, the CA reactions and/or the mumpsreactions could conceivably merely reflect infections
with other membersof the parainfluenza group.
“Tt would be interesting to find out to what ex-
showed no increase in levels above the normal per-
one 6-year-old exposed boy ( #3).* The mean
percent basophil count (counting 4000 whitecells)
for the exposed Rongelap group was 0.42% in
1959 and 0.93% in 1960; in the Ailingnae group,
0.29% in 1959 and 0.80% in 1960. Basophil counts
on the unexposed group are not yet complete for
1959. The individual values for alkaline phosphatase and basophil counts are presented in
ComplementFixation Tests
The results of the complementfixationtests are
shownin Table 23. In discussing these results Dr.
R. J. Heubner made the following comments:
“IT suppose the most interesting thing is that
there is evidence of infection with almost ail the
groupsof viruses that wetested for. It is important
to point out that complement-fixing antibodies are
generally less persistent than are hemagglutina-
tion inhibition and neutralizing antibodies. There-
fore, the high levels of adenovirus and HA |! complement-fixing antibodiesreflect either recentinfection or multiple infections with various mem-
bers of the parainfluenza family of viruses. The
low levels obtained for other agents, such as influenza A, influenza B, HA 2, CA, mumps, LGV,
and Q fever mayreflect low levels of infection with
these agents, but more likely mightreflect the fact
that such agents have not been prevalent in recent
pretation is that the virus has not been presentin
the recent past, but the presence of antibodies may
tent the psittacosis group and fever represent a
threat to this population, and of course in the
birds and domestic animals as well.”
Dr. Heubner’s forecast of Asian influenza in the
Marshail Islands from the Rongelap datais interesting in that an epidemic of serious proportions
did occur at Kwajalein Atoll in January 1960 resulting in significant mortality.
The average antibodytiters for the different age
groups in the exposed people were, in nearly all
cases, lower than in the corresponding unexposed
age groups. It ts not known whetherthisis a significant finding; further studies will be done to
determine this. At three years after exposure, the
primary responseto tetanus antitoxin averaged
slightly less in the exposed people than in the unexposed.” However, because of the small numbers
of people studied,this finding could not be considered significant.
years. Thus, one might conclude from the data
Sodium and Potassium Levels, 1959
involved the Marshall Island populations, orelse,
Americans, namely, =40 to 100 mEq/day. Salt
intake varied widely as judged by urine excretion,
ranging from 2 to 18 g/day. Therelatively high
salt consumption of someindividuals is undoubtedly related to the irregular consumption of
that the Asian influenza virus has not yet seriously
of course, that the complement-fixing antibody
producedbythe Asian influenza has notpersisted.
“T would rather suspect from the age distribu-
tion that Asian influenza still has not reached
these people, and that one might look forward to
see if they are involved at somefuture date. Sim-
ilarly, the age distribution of influenza B antibodies suggests that it has not occurred for at least
6 to 10 years. The absence of HA 2 antibodies suggests that the virus has not been prevalentin re*In 1959 his basophil count was 2.1%, WBC 8600, and alkaline phosphatase negative cells 79%. In 1960 his basophil count
was 3%, WBC 6100, and alkaline phosphatase negativecells
70%. No abnormalforms wereseen.
oy
erally normaldistribution of positive cells, as in
the previous year. BasopAil counts of 4000 cells
Potassium intake appeared to approximatethat of
canned C rations, to which 2% NaCl is added
routinely during preparation. The medianintake
of salt appeared to approximate that of male em-
ployees at Brookhaven National Laboratory,
namely, =10 g/day. This undoubtedly represents
an increase overthe intake in earlier years when
only native foods were eaten. It will be of interest
to note whetherthe incidence of hypertension also
will begin to increase. At present the prevalence
of hypertension (B.P. greater than 140/90) is 9.2%
my
phosphatase staining of neutrophils showed a gen-