A Preliminary Investigation of Viral Pathogen Causing Foetal Abortion in Donkeys at Ethiopia

ABSTRACT: Rabbit kidney (RK13) cells infected with virus isolated from a homogenate made from the placenta of aborted foetal donkeys were stained with Leishman’s stain, morphological changes including cytopathic effects (CPE), syncytia, and inclusion bodies were seen by light microscopy after incubation for 24hrs-96hrs at 370C. After 48hrs of incubation, about 60% of cells were infected. Another Set of RK 13 cells infected with either native virus or both ether treated virus and native virus in the presence of acyclovir was stained with Giemsa, morphology changes were observed in the native virus infected cell while little or no change was seen in infected cells in the presence of acyclovir and ether treated virus respectively. Virus infected RK13 cells were stained with acridine orange, intracellular fluorescent green colour was seen by fluorescence microscopy in the cell nucleus. The clinical history and CPE of the virus in RK13 cell are similar to Equine Herpes virus.

RC-IAL cell line: sensitivity of rubella virus grow

OBJECTIVE: The rapid growth of the rubella virus in RC-IAL² with development of cytopathic effect, in response to rubella virus infection, is described. For purposes of comparison, the rubella virus RA-27/3 strain was titered simultaneously in the RC-IAL, Vero, SIRC and RK13 cell lines. METHODS: Rubella virus RA-27/3 strain are inoculated in the RC-IAL cell line (rabbit Kidney, Institute Adolfo Lutz). Plates containing 1.5x10(5) cells/ml of RC-IAL line were inoculated with 0.1ml s RA-27/3 strain virus containing 1x 10(4)TCID50/0.1ml. A 25% cytopathic effect was observed after 48 hours and 100% after 96 hours. The results obtained were compared to those observed with the SIRC, Vero and RK13 cell lines. Rubella virus was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: With the results, it was possible to conclude that the RC-IAL cell line is a very good substrate for culturing rubella virus. The cells inoculated with rubella virus were examined by phase contrast microscopy and showed the characteristic rounded, bipolar and multipolar cells. The CPE in RC-IAL was observed in the first 48 hours and the curve of the increased infectivity was practically the same as observed in other cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are important since this is one the few cell lines described in the literature with a cytopathic effect. So it can be used for antigen preparation and serological testing for the diagnosis of specific rubella antibodies.