Growth Characteristics of the H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus in Chicken Embryonic Eggs and MDCK Cells

Abstract

Chicken embryonic eggs and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line were used for comparing the propagation of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus (C2105Dx1, a Thai isolate). The growth of the H5N1 virus was determined by using HA test and 50% infectivity dose to assess the suitability of the systems supporting the propagation of the virus. The results indicated that the Thai H5N1 virus was propagated better in the chicken embryonic eggs, which should be considered as a system of choice for the avian H5N1 virus isolation. The optimal time for harvesting the selected Thai H5N1 virus was at 24 hours after inoculation in the chicken embryonic eggs, yielding the virus titer of at least 9 log2 HAU/50μl or 107.0 TCID50/ml.