Canine kidney cell line for isolation of respiratory viruses

Abstract

Using a continuous canine kidney cell line (MDCK), influenza viruses were rapidly isolated from specimens collected from patients with respiratory disease. The cell line proved more sensitive than eggs or rhesus monkey cells for currently circulating influenza A and B strains. Influenza viruses caused a distinct cytopathology within 5 days of inoculation if trypsin-EDTA was incorporated into the medium. Sufficient hemagglutinin was produced on the initial tissue culture passage to allow direct identification of isolates by hemagglutinin inhibition tests. A variety of other respiratory viruses [including parainfluenza type 3 and respiratory syncytial viruses] replicated in MDCK, and over a 10-mo. period 211 of 600 specimens (35%) yielded viruses.