Optimal conditions for the growth, purification and storage of the avian reovirus S1133

In spite of their importance as avian pathogens causing important losses in poultry fanning, the biochemistry of avian reoviruses has been little inve stigated. In order to facilitate the handling of these agents in the labora tory, a study was carried out to establish the best conditions both for gro wing the avian reovirus S1133 in primary cultures of chicken embryo fibrobl asts and for purification and storage of viral suspensions. The results ind icate that the conditions used currently for the manipulation of mammalian reoviruses are not always the best for handling their avian counterparts. I n particular, avian reoviruses are much less stable than mammalian reovirus es, and specific conditions for the purification and storage of avian reovi ruses therefore should be used. Furthermore, the instability of avian reovi rions may have important implications for the life cycle and pathogenesis o f the virus within the animal host. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.