Comparison of isolation in cell culture with conventional and modified mouse antibody production tests for detection of murine viruses.

The sensitivity of the mouse antibody production test with intraperitoneal or intrasplenic inoculation of mice with reovirus type 3, minute virus of mice, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, or mouse hepatitis virus was compared with that of direct isolation in cultured cells. The mouse antibody production test for detection of mouse hepatitis virus was significantly more sensitive than virus isolation in permissive cells, but differences in sensitivity were less marked for the other three viruses. The intrasplenic route of inoculation did not yield seroconversion that occurred earlier or more consistently than that detected after intraperitoneal inoculation.