The use of mouse embryo cell cultures in primary isolation of chikungunya virus.

Successful primary isolation of chikungunya virus from clinical specimens was carried out using mouse embryo cell cultures. Parallel isolation studies using the classical intracerebral inoculation of suckling mice showed that both systems are about equally sensitive. However, the mouse embryo cultures seem to have certain advantages over the use of mice; these include economy of materials and time, precision, and a greater uniformity of reaction. Furthermore, the infective tissue-culture fluid provides a more convenient source of complement-fixing antigen. Compared with other cell cultures, mouse embryo cultures have the advantage of being readily available in all arbovirus laboratories. The method should be particularly useful in epidemic situations.