The growth of cell culture-attenuated rinderpest virus in bovine lymphoblasts with B cell, CD4+ and CD8+ alpha/beta T cell and gamma/delta T cell phenotypes.

Cloned bovine lymphoblastoid cell lines, transformed by the protozoan parasite Theileria parva were infected with cell culture-attenuated rinderpest virus vaccine. The virus grew readily in lymphoid B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ alpha/beta T cells and gamma/delta T cells producing new infectivity, viral antigens, c.p.e. and total cell death. There did not appear to be a predilection for any particular phenotype of lymphoblast. The results imply that if the vaccine causes immunosuppression, it could do so through a variety of mechanisms.