[Laboratory procedures in adenoviruses. vii. susceptibility of human diploid fibroblasts (author's transl)].

Six prototype strains of human adenoviruses (Ad 1, 4, 7, 8, 12, 19) were passed and titrated comparatively in four strains of human diploid fibroblast cultures. The viruses were readily passed 5 times with cytopathic effect; no signs of adaptation or dimunition of CPE were apparent. The virus yield was about equal in fibroblasts and in HeLa cells. High and low passage fibroblasts were of equal susceptibility. In endpoint titrations, fibroblast cultures showed an about 10-fold lower susceptibility towards Ad1 and Ad7; however, they compared favorably for Ad4, 8, 12, and 19 with HeLa or (for Ad8) with human amnion cell cultures. In some instances differences in the susceptibility between fibroblast strains were observed. Fibroblast cultures and human amnion cells showed equal susceptibility for Ad8 from 9 original conjunctival specimens, while results with other types varied. For adenovirus isolation, fibroblast cultures are suitable as an adjunct to HeLa cell cultures, particularly for Ad8. However, the long duration till the appearance of CPE which sometimes exceeds 50 days is a disadvantage.