PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF PRIMARY OSTRICH FIBROBLASTS FOR THE ISOLATION OF RATITE VIRUSES

An ostrich egg at 21 days of development was used to propagate primary embryo cell cultures. Primary cultures of skeletal muscle cells (for fibroblasts) were prepared by routine trypsinization techniques. The o strich embryo fibroblasts were tested for their ability to propagate s tock avian viruses of infectious bronchitis virus, paramyxovirus-1 (PM V-1), PMV-2, PMV-3, infectious bursal disease virus, quail bronchitis virus, avian reovirus, turkey coronavirus, and two ostrich-originating specimens (one of which was a possible coronavirus identified by elec tron microscopy). Cytopathic effects were seen by light microscopy in cell cultures inoculated with PMV-1, turkey coronavirus, and the two o strich specimens. Hemagglutinating titers of 4 or more were determined for PMV-1, turkey coronavirus, and the two ostrich specimens after in oculation onto monolayers of ostrich embryo fibroblasts. Hemagglutinat ion-inhibition tests confirmed the identification of PMV-1 when homolo gous antisera were used as the specific inhibitor. Bovine coronavirus antisera inhibited the hemagglutination of one of the cultured ostrich specimens.