RELATIONSHIP OF DONOR AGE TO IN VITRO PRODUCTION OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS BY MOUSE KIDNEY CELLS

Abstract

Multiplication of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was compared in kidney cells from 7- to 35-day-old mice which represented various degrees of age resistance to this virus. While adsorption rates were similar in the cells from all of the mice, virus multiplication began earlier and more virus was produced in suspensions of dispersed cells and suspensions of minced tissue from the younger mice. However, there was no appreciable difference in virus growth rates in primary cultures of cells from the various groups of mice. The results indicate that kidney cells from mice 7 to 35 days old vary in their ability to produce virus in relation to the degree of susceptibility of the cell donors. After propagation of the cells in primary ]monolayer cultures, however, this difference no longer exists, probably because of cell selection under the cultural conditions.