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Comparative susceptibility of BHK-21 and vero cell lines to bluetongue virus (BTV) isolate pathogenic for sheep

P.Sekar, G.Gurusubramanian

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious, non contagious arthropod-borne disease of ruminants caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV), prototype species of the genusOrbivirus,within the family Reoviridae. InTamilNadu, 22 out of 24 districts were reported to be affected by the bluetongue virus. Hence the attempt has beenmade to cultivation and adaptation of BTV isolates in two different cell lines namely BHK 21 and Vero. The study was found to be successful as the inclusion bodies induced by the virus (intra cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions, nuclear fusion with giant cell formation). It was evident from the infectivity titre of 9.48 that the virus has got adapted to BHK21 cells to a greater extent than Vero cells as it happened to be an ideal cell line for Bluetongue vaccine production. The silent persistent infection of the BHK 21 and Vero cell lines cells with BTV indicates that more stringent screening of the cells used in the production of live vaccines.