Effect of temperature on survival and growth of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus.

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus was stable for 10 days at 4 C in stream and well water, after which the virus had a half-life of 7.5 days. At 15 C, the virus was stable for 5 days, and then had a half-life between 5 and 6 days. Viral antigen in infected cells developed much more slowly at 4 C than at 20 C. Infected cells released infectious viral particles at temperatures as low as 4 C. Nutrition had a greater effect on the production of infectious virus at 4 C than at 20 C.