[Ecology of Soldado virus: apparent lack of a viral inhibitor in th tissues of the vector tick Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) maritimus Vermeil and Marguet 1967].

It was previously postulated by others that suspensions of ticks O. (A.) maritmus may contain virucidal material (viral inhibitor) for Soldado virus leading to observe different infection rates according as the ticks were tested individually or in pools. In order to test this hypothesis, suspensions of nymphs of this species originating from a laboratory breeding stock, were mixed with Soldado virus before inoculation to suckling mice. No difference in mortality was observed between the mice receiving the virus exposed to tick suspensions and the controls. So, it seems unlike a viral inhibitor was responsible for the phenomenon. Other factors involved in Soldado virus ecology and possibly influencing the virus isolation efficiency are briefly discussed.