Propagation of Asian isolates of canine distemper virus (CDV) in hamster cell lines.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to confirm the propagation of various canine distemper viruses (CDV) in hamster cell lines of HmLu and BHK, since only a little is known about the possibility of propagation of CDV in rodent cells irrespective of their epidemiological importance.


METHODS
The growth of CDV in hamster cell lines was monitored by titration using Vero.dogSLAMtag (Vero-DST) cells that had been proven to be susceptible to almost all field isolates of CDV, with the preparations of cell-free and cell-associated virus from the cultures infected with recent Asian isolates of CDV (13 strains) and by observing the development of cytopathic effect (CPE) in infected cultures of hamster cell lines.


RESULTS
Eleven of 13 strains grew in HmLu cells, and 12 of 13 strains grew in BHK cells with apparent CPE of cell fusion in the late stage of infection. Two strains and a strain of Asia 1 group could not grow in HmLu cells and BHK cells, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates at the first time that hamster cell lines can propagate the majority of Asian field isolates of CDV. The usage of two hamster cell lines suggested to be useful to characterize the field isolates biologically.
Sultan
Serageldeen
S
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan. seaas@lycos.com
Lan
Nguyen Thi
NT
Ueda
Toshiki
T
Yamaguchi
Ryoji
R
Maeda
Ken
K
Kai
Kazushige
K
D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D004216:Distemper / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D004217:Distemper Virus, Canine / Q000254:growth & development*; D004285:Dogs; D014709:Vero Cells; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology