ISOLATION AND PROPAGATION OF VIRUS OF TRANSMISSIBLE GASTROENTERITIS OF PIGS IN VARIOUS PIG CELL CULTURES

Of 4 strains of TGE transmissible gastroenteritis virus tested, the Purdue strain could be propagated serially and produced a cytopathic effect (CPE) in primary monolayer cultures of adult and fetal pig kidney cells, pig thyroid cells, and pig salivary gland cells. In kidney and salivary gland cell cultures, a distinct CPE was observed only after several passages. In thyroid cell cultures, a marked CEP was evident in the 1st passage. High cell passage virus caused the rapid and complete destruction of and produced plaques regularly in pig thyroid cell cultures, while plaque production in pig kidney cell cultures was irregular. The CPE was accompanied by acid production. New infectious virus appeared in fetal pig kidney cells less than 5 hr. after infection. TGE virus was found to be ether, acid, and heat labile. Serial passage in fetal pig kidney cells led to a considerable attenuation of TGE virus.