RESUMO
A virus, designated Sikhote-Alin, was isolated in 1970 from Ixodes persulcatus ticks collected from a wild boar in the Primorie region (U.S.S.R.) Sikhote-Alin virus showed no haemagglutinating activity and no antigenic relationships with arboviruses of 12 antigenic groups, 17 ungrouped tick-borne arboviruses, porcine enteroviruses and coxsackie A (types 1-18) viruses. An one-way antigenic relationship was demonstrated by complement fixation with cardioviruses (Mengo and Columbia-SK strains). The virus contains RNA, is resistant to lipid solvents, highly thermostable in the presence of 1 M MgCl2 and its size is over 20 nm but less than 25 nm. All these properties make it possible to consider it as a new member of the cardiovirus group (genus Enterovirus; Picornaviridae).