Hamster Kidney Cell Tissue Cultures for Propagation of Japanese B Encephalitis Virus.

Abstract

Monolayer hamster kidney cell tissue cultures were pre pared by methods essentially identical with those currently in use for monkey kidney. In screen tests, these proved markedly susceptible to the cytopathogenic effect of Japanese B encephalitis, West Nile, Uganda S, Ilheus, Bunyamwera, and Semliki Forest viruses; moderately suscep tible to effects of St. Louis encephalitis agent and the New Guinea C, Hawaiian and Trinidad strains of dengue virus; but in contrast, the Ntaya, Zika and Bwamba agents and the 3 types of poliovirus failed to show cytopathogenic effects. Further studies with the Japanese B en cephalitis agent established that propagation of this agent through 8 serial transfers resulted in a virus yield greater than the original inoculum although the dilution factors had carried beyond the extinction point of the infectivity of the original inoculum. Titers obtained were about 10-6. Neutralization procedures established the identity of the Japanese B agent after 6 serial passages and indicated that the "test tube" procedure may prove useful as a serological test in the laboratory.