Propagation of avian rotavirus in primary chick kidney cell and MA104 cell cultures.

The Ch2 strain of avian rotavirus was propagated in primary chick kidney cell (CKC) and MA104 cell cultures in the presence of trypsin. Cultures were evaluated for the presence of rotavirus by an indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay and by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After two passages, the viral titer was significantly higher in CKC than MA104 cell cultures. Also, the IFA assay was more sensitive than the indirect ELISA for detecting rotavirus-positive cultures.