Growth of Orungo virus in various tissue cultures.

Monolayer cultures of cell strains derived from Cercopithicus kidney (Vero), baby hamster kidney (BHK-21), duck embryo (DE), new-born rabbit kidney (MA-111), and Aedes albopictus were tested for their ability to support the growth of Orungo virus. The virus multiplied to high titres with accompanying cytopathic effect (CPE) in Vero and BHK-21 cultures, but not in the other three culture systems. The yield of virus from infected Vero cell cultures incubated at 37 degrees C was 30 to 100 times greater than in infected cultures incubated at 23 degrees C. In addition, a CPE was observed earlier and reached completion at the higher incubating temperature. Tiny plaques 1 to 2 mm in diameter were produced only in Vero but not in BHK-21, MA-111, DE or Aedes albopictus systems.