title: Equine influenza culture methods.
abstract: Equine influenza viruses are cultured in embryonated hen eggs, or in mammalian cells, generally Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, using methods much the same as for other influenza A viruses. Mutations associated with host adaptation occur in both eggs and MDCK cells, but the latter show greater heterogeneity and eggs are the generally preferred host. Both equine-1 H7N7 and equine-2 H3N8 viruses replicate efficiently in 11-day-old eggs, but we find that equine-1 viruses kill the embryos whereas equine-2 viruses do not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, OIE Reference Laboratory for Equine Influenza, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 1400 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY, 40546-0099, USA, tmcham1@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Stephanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Reedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D006736:Horses / Q000821:virology*; D053123:Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / Q000254:growth & development*; D053126:Influenza A Virus, H7N7 Subtype / Q000254:growth & development*; D061985:Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells; D010063:Ovum / Q000821:virology