Cultivation of a porcine adenovirus in porcine thyroid cell cultures.

The porcine adenovirus type 4 was adapted to grow in porcine thyroid cell cultures. A readily recognizable cytopathic effect appeared in these cells as soon as the first passage of the virus and complete degeneration of the monolayers was obtained after only 72 hours post-infection at the fourth passage. A viral yield of 10(6.0) TCID50/ml was calculated after the third passage. The virus was purified by CsCl density gradient centrifugation and was shown to possess a buoyant density of 1.33 g/ml. A specific antiserum was prepared from two specific-pathogen-free piglets and used for indirect immunofluorescent staining. The fluorescence was observed in the nucleus of infected cells at 24 to 72 hours post-inoculation. The use of TP cells is suggested for routine porcine adenovirus diagnosis.