ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ERYTHROCYTIC VIRUS OF THE SOUTH-AFRICAN ANURAN PTYCHADENA-ANCHIETAE

Electron microscopic study of virus infections in the erythrocytes of the frog Ptychadena anchietae from northern Transvaal, South Africa revealed icosahedral iridovirus-like particles measuring 175 to 198 nm in diameter, containing a dense, pleomorphic nucleoid. Virions were enveloped by 2 membranes, and may be associated with extensive membranous clots. The virus assembled in the cytoplasm within spherical fibrillar virosomes. Infected cells contained a large crystalloid inclusion body in their cytoplasm. and in some, the inclusion was also present in the nucleus. Infection occurred in both mature and immature erythrocytes. There was no evidence of productive infection in non-erythrocytic cells.