Characterization of the Largemouth Bass Virus in Cell Culture

Abstract

The largemouth bass virus (LMBV) was characterized in cell culture, by infectivity in five cell lines of fish origin, optimum replication temperature, and ether and pH sensitivity. Viral induced cytopathic effect (CPE) appeared most rapidly in bluegill fry-2 (BF-2) and fathead minnow (FHM) cell lines where the optimum temperature for LMBV replication was 30°C. In a one-step growth curve in BF-2 cells, LMBV reached 10^8.6 TCID50/mL (±0.12 log SD) in 24 h. The virus showed reduced infectivity when treated with ether but was stable when held in medium with a pH 3–9 for 12 h at 4°C. These characteristics further support the classification of LMBV in the family Iridoviridae.     

Factors associated with improved haemagglutination by African horse sickness virus

Concentrated cell culture fluids of African horse sickness virus were shown to agglutinate erythrocytes from cattle, horses, sheep, goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and poultry at 4°C, room temperature, and 37°C. The titres obtained were dependent on pH and NaCl molarity of the diluent, optimal titres being obtained at pH 7.5 and 0.6 M NaCl. The HA inhibiting antibodies to two AHS viruses were proven to be type specific.     

Comparative Study of Proliferation and Apoptosis Characteristics of Different Virulence of Aleutian Mink Disease Virus in CRFK Cells

This study was aimed to compare the proliferation and apoptosis characteristics of different virulence of Aleutian mink disease virus(AMDV) in feline kidney cell (CPFK). CRFK cells were infected separately with the standard strain of AMDV-G and the wild strains of AMDV-DL124, AMDV-DL125, AMDV-QD2, AMDV-QD3 and AMDV-ZJ3. Indirect immunofluorescence,Real-time quantitative PCR and TCID₅₀ were used to detect the replication and expression of the viruses in the cells, at the same time the apoptosis induced by the viruses was detected. The results of IFA showed that CRFK cells which infected separately by wild strains appeared the fluorescence after 12 h of infection. With the extension of the infection time, the fluorescence of cells increased, but the fluorescence of AMDV-G was later than the wild strains, almost all of the cells were appeared the fluorescence after 72 h of infection. The Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that the tendency of genome replication of different virus were approximately the same. The genome replication began at 3 h after the AMDV-DL125 infection,the rapid increase of genome replication of AMDV-G occurred at 24 h after the infection, the genome replication of whole viruses reached a peak after 72 h of infection. The results of TCID₅₀ showed that the latent period of viruses infection were 0 to 12 h after infection, AMDV-G reached the peak after 60 h of infection. However, the wild strains at 48 to 72 h could maintain a higher infection titer and reached peak at 72 h after infection, then decreased with the cell disintegration. Apoptosis detection results which analysis by SPSS 23.0 statistical analysis software showed that, compared with control group,cell apoptosis was significantly higher after 2 to 12 h of cells infected by wild strains induced (P<0.05), cell apoptosis of AMDV-G was significantly lower than wild strains, however, the time of cell apoptosis induced by AMDV-G was longer,the apoptosis was still significant after 24 h of infection. But the apoptosis caused by virus infection was mostly concentrated in 2 to 12 h after infection. The results would provide some references for the study on the culture and identification and pathogenic mechanism of AMDV.     

Effect of Long-Term Storage at Different Temperatures on the Quality of Liquid Boar Semen

In this study the effect of long‐term storage of liquid boar semen at different temperatures on motility, acrosome integrity and pH was investigated. Additionally, individual variation in sperm tolerance to storage at 10°C were examined. Beltsville Thawing Solution‐diluted AI doses from 16 randomly chosen Norwegian Landrace AI boars with proven fertility were split into subsamples and stored at 25, 20, 15 and 10°C, respectively. After 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of storage, sperm motility, acrosome integrity and pH were determined. After 96 h, the initial percentage of motile sperm (77.8%) was significantly reduced to 52.2, 58.8, 50.9 and 42.8% by storage at 25, 20, 15 and 10°C, respectively. After an identical period of time, the percentage of acrosome intact sperm (95.8%) at time 0 became significantly reduced to 91.3, 91.3, 81.5 and 68.3% by storage at 25, 20, 15 and 10°C, respectively. The initial pH (7.21) decreased significantly to 6.96 and 7.06 after 96 h storage at 25 and 20°C, and increased not significantly to 7.25 for storage at 15°C and significantly to 7.29 at 10°C. In conclusion, the results from this study show that, according to the variables studied, 20°C is the least harmful of the four temperatures tested for the long‐term liquid storage of boar semen. Furthermore, remarkable differences in the individual resistance of boar semen to long‐term storage at 10°C were observed.     

不同毒力水貂阿留申病毒在猫肾细胞中的增殖特性及凋亡特性的比较研究

试验旨在对不同毒力水貂阿留申病毒（Aleutian mink disease virus,AMDV）在猫肾细胞（feline kidney cell,CRFK）中的增殖规律及其诱导细胞凋亡情况进行比较研究。将标准毒株AMDV-G及分离到的野毒株AMDV-DL124、AMDV-DL125、AMDV-QD2、AMDV-QD3、AMDV-ZJ3接种CRFK细胞,应用间接免疫荧光、实时荧光定量PCR、TCID₅₀测定技术研究病毒在细胞中的复制及表达情况,同时检测病毒诱导的细胞凋亡情况。间接免疫荧光结果显示,5株野毒株荧光着色趋势差异不大,均在感染后12 h出现荧光,随感染时间延长荧光增多,AMDV-G荧光出现时间比野毒株晚,但病毒感染后72 h几乎所有细胞均出现荧光;实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,基因组复制趋势大致相同,AMDV-DL125感染后3 h复制开始,AMDV-G感染后24 h复制才开始并呈快速增长趋势,但感染后72 h均达到峰值。TCID₅₀检测结果表明,0~12 h为病毒感染潜伏期,AMDV-G感染后60 h达到峰值,野毒株均在感染后72 h达到峰值,但是6株病毒均能在感染后48~72 h维持较高的感染滴度,其后随细胞崩解而降低。SPSS 23.0统计软件分析凋亡检测结果显示,与对照组相比,野毒株感染细胞后2~12 h诱导细胞凋亡差异显著（P<0.05）,AMDV-G诱导细胞凋亡差异明显低于野毒株,但是诱导细胞凋亡时间较野毒株长,在感染后24 h仍对细胞凋亡有较明显的诱导作用,但是各病毒诱导的细胞凋亡主要集中在2~12 h。该结果为AMDV的培养、鉴定及致病机理研究提供一定参考。     

Evaluation of Cell Culture Methods for Detection of Largemouth Bass Virus

Abstract

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV), a recently discovered iridovirus found in the eastern United States, is usually detected by isolation in cell culture. Although LMBV will replicate in several cell lines, optimal cell culture methods for the detection of this virus have not been determined. We tested inoculation method, adsorption time, incubation temperature, and various cell lines to determine the conditions that would provide the most sensitive cell culture assay for LMBV. The optimal inoculation procedure tested was to remove the culture medium from the culture well before the addition of the inoculum, and the optimal adsorption procedure tested was to allow the virus to adsorb for 40 min while the plates were on an orbital shaker. Following inoculation, incubation at 30°C resulted in a higher number of viral plaques than incubation at 25°C or 32°C. Four cell lines (bluegill fry (BF-2), fathead minnow (FHM), epithelioma papulosum cyprini, and channel catfish ovary cells) inoculated with LMBV had similar susceptibility to infection. Similar percentages of LMBV-positive samples were detected in BF-2 and FHM cell cultures inoculated with homogenized organ samples from largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides; however, the use of two cell lines increased the number of infected samples discovered. A blind passage also increased the number of positive samples detected in cell culture. Subcultivation to confirm virus-positive samples was useful for reducing false-positive results.     

Haemolytic activity of sheep complement for two assay systems

Sheep complement (C) is haemolytic for sheep erythrocytes sensitized with rabbit antibody (sheep E-rabbit A) provided serum is used as soon as possible after collection. If left at 4 °C to separate from the clot, serum C activity for sheep E-rabbit A is markedly reduced. Heparinized plasma retains its haemolytic titre for at least 24 h at 4 °C. Plasma from Mg²⁺-ethyleneglycoltetraacetic acid (EGTA) blood is non-haemolytic, but addition of Ca²⁺ partially restores the titre. A high concentration of rabbit A is necessary to sensitize sheep E.Sheep C is haemolytic for human erythrocytes sensitized with sheep antibody (human E-sheep A) in the presence of Mg²⁺-EGTA. This C activity is stable at 4 °C for 24 h in serum, Mg²⁺-EGTA plasma and heparinized plasma. Haemolytic activity of serum heated at 50 °C for 30 min was restored by a factor B containing CM-cellulose fraction of foetal lamb serum in the presence of Mg²⁺-EGTA for human E-sheep A but not sheep E-rabbit A.These findings show that sheep C haemolysis of sheep E-rabbit A requires a Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-dependent pathway that is labile in vitro for 24 h at 4 °C.     

驯化克隆的CAV-2大斑株的实验免疫研究

对MDCK细胞上驯化克隆产毒量高的大斑株 (LP)的第 5 0代毒和 75代毒进行了实验免疫研究 ,结果表明该毒株具有安全性好 ,通过静脉和口鼻接种CAV易感犬 ,无任何致病反应 ;用10 4 .0 TCID50 以上的该毒免疫CAV易感犬 ,即获得 97.5 %以上的免疫保护 ;将其在CAV易感犬连续传 5代 ,其安全性与原毒相同 ,表明该毒株在 5 0～ 75代之间遗传性稳定 ,免疫原性良好 ;与CPV和CDV弱毒联合免疫 ,结果与各弱毒单独免疫所产生的抗体无差异 ,说明该毒株不但可以单独用于免疫 ,也可与其他弱毒联合免疫。是一株较好的疫苗候选株 ,具有开发应用价值。     

抗酵母表达犬细小病毒蛋白VP2的单克隆抗体的制备和鉴定

以纯化的酵母重组表达的犬细小病毒VP2单位免疫BALB／C小鼠,采用B淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术,通过ELISA方法筛选,获得4株能稳定分泌抗犬细小病毒CPV结构蛋白VP2的单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株。4株单克隆抗体中,2株属于IgG2b亚类,2株属于IgG1亚类,其腹水效价可达到1：51200和1：204800,细胞培养上清液效价可达1：256、1：512。ELISA分析表明,这些单抗仅与CPV及其VP2发生特异性反应,而与CDV和CAV-1及CAV-2没有交叉反应;荧光免疫染色病毒检测进一步表明单克隆抗体的特异性效果好。这些特异性单抗的制备为建立有效的检测犬细小病毒感染奠定了基础。     

一株MDBK细胞的低血清悬浮驯化研究

研究选取一株背景清晰、纯净的MDBK贴壁细胞,通过直接驯化和逐级降低血清相结合的办法,获得了一株可以在低血清培养基中全悬浮培养的MDBK细胞。该细胞在含0.5%胎牛血清的培养基中悬浮培养48 h后的细胞密度稳定在5.0×10⁶/mL以上,培养72 h后细胞密度最高可达1.16×10⁷/mL,且细胞形态良好,活力在93%以上,具有良好的传代稳定性。应用筛选获得的悬浮培养MDBK细胞株分别接种伪狂犬病毒和传染性牛鼻气管炎病毒后,检测病毒敏感性。细胞在24 h均发生了皱缩,72 h大部分死亡。悬浮培养的MDBK细胞对传染性牛鼻气管炎病毒的滴度在24 h达到最大值107.6TCID50/mL,对伪狂犬病毒的滴度在48 h达到最大值107.6 TCID50/mL,说明虽然细胞的培养方式发生了改变,但并没有影响上述两种病毒在该细胞上的增殖特性。对MDBK细胞的全悬浮驯化研究可为相关病毒类疫苗规模化生产及工艺的升级改进提供细胞学基础资料。     

Hemolytic activity of Akabane virus

Akabane virus was shown to lyse as well as to agglutinate pigeon erythrocytes. The hemolytic activity of the virus was markedly enhanced by repeated freeze-thawing, but its hemagglutinating activity was not affected. Hemolysis (HL) with the virus, like its hemagglutination, was affected by the NaCl concentration as well as by the pH of the diluent. HL was markedly affected by the incubation temperature, but hemagglutination (HA) was not; HL activity was highest at 37°C, somewhat lower at 25°C, very low at 4°C, and did not occur at 0°C. While pigeon erythrocytes were positive for both HL and HA, goose erythrocytes were positive for HA but negative for HL. Erythrocytes from cattle, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and day-old chickens were tested for HA as well as for HL activity with negative results. A linear relationship was shown, in a wide range of the virus concentrations, between the percent HL and the virus concentration, as expressed on a logarithmic scale. Based on these findings we developed an assay method for Akabane virus hemolysin. Analysis by CsCl equilibrium density gradient centrifugation indicated the hemolytic as well as the hemagglutinating activity to be structurally associated with the virion. Scanning electron microscopy of pigeon erythrocytes undergoing HL with the virus revealed the appearance of a depressed area with a hole on the cell surface. The hemolytic activity of the virus was specifically inhibited by antisera to the virus and an HL-inhibition test was developed.     

A long term observation of antibody status to chicken anaemia virus in individual chickens of breeder flocks

The antibody status to chicken anaemia virus (CAV) in four layer breeder flocks was evaluated. Sera were periodically collected from the same 17 to 20 individual chickens of each flock ranging in age from 10 to 63 weeks old. The neutralising and fluorescence antibody were detectable in individual chickens during the observation periods ranging from 13 to 44 weeks. A high prevalence of both neutralising and fluorescence antibodies was observed; however, the prevalence of fluorescence antibody in older chickens was lower than that of neutralising antibody. The geometric mean (GM) of neutralising antibody titres, after all the chickens examined had seroconverted in flocks 1, 2 and 4, ranged from 373·2 to 2940·6. In flock 1, the GM titre at 63 weeks old was significantly lower than that at 37 and 52 weeks old. In flock 4, the GM titre at 48 weeks old was significantly lower than that at 24 and 35 weeks old. In flock 2, the GM titre at more than 31 weeks old significantly increased compared with that at 25 weeks old; this tendency was not seen in the GM of the fluorescence antibody titres. The results indicate that immunity to CAV can last a long time in naturally infected individual chickens.     

Vaccination of newborn pigs with an attenuated strain of transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Clinical signs of transmissible gastroenteritis were not observed in newborn pigs orally inoculated with the high-passaged vaccinal transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TO-163 strain). Vaccinal viral multiplication in digestive tract of newborn pigs fed colostrum before inoculation and kept at 21 to 22 C was diminished, but was not diminished in those fed colostrum and kept at 10 to 11 C. Other groups of newborn pigs inoculated with the attenuated vaccinal virus and kept at 18 to 22 C or at 31 to 34 C were challenge exposed with virulent intestinal virus on the 1st, 2nd, . . ., or 6th postinoculation (PI) days. In the groups kept at 18 to 22 C, 2 of 7 inoculated pigs challenge exposed with virulent virus on the 3rd PI day, 4 of 7 pigs exposed on the 4th PI day, and all of the pigs exposed on and after the 5th PI day survived the exposure. In the groups kept at 18 to 22 C, the attenuated vaccinal virus was distributed mainly in the respiratory organs and lymphatic tissues. On the contrary, in the groups kept at 31 to 34 C, all of the pigs died in 2 to 5 days after challenge exposure, and the attenuated vaccinal virus was scarcely detected in any of the pigs.     

Effect of temperature on the pharmacokinetics of benzocaine in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after bath exposures

The pharmacokinetics of benzocaine during bath exposures at 1 mg/L were determined in rainbow trout acclimated at 6 °C, 12 °C or 18 °C for at least 1 month. Individual fish were exposed to benzocaine in a recirculating system for 4 h and pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated in a unique manner from the concentration of benzocaine in the bath water vs. time curve. Elimination from plasma was also determined after the 4 h exposure. The uptake clearance and metabolic clearance increased with increased acclimatization temperatures (uptake clearance 581 ± 179 mL/min/kg at 6 °C and 1154 ± 447 mL/min/kg at 18 °C; metabolic clearance 15.2 ± 4.1 mL/min/kg at 6 °C and 22.3 ± 4.2 mL/min/kg at 18 °C). The apparent volume of distribution had a trend for increasing with temperature that was not significant at the 5% level (2369 ± 678 mL/kg at 6 °C to 3260 ± 1182 mL/kg at 18 °C). The elimination half-life of benzocaine in plasma was variable and did not differ significantly with temperature (60.8 ± 30.3 min at 6 °C to 35.9 ± 13.0 min at 12 °C). Elimination of benzocaine from rainbow trout is relatively rapid and even more rapid at higher acclimatization temperatures based on calculated metabolic clearances and measured plasma concentrations, but was not evident by measurement of terminal plasma half-lifes.     

Isolation and preliminary characterization of chicken anemia virus from chickens in Nigeria

Chicken anemia virus (CAV) was isolated for the first time from the Nigerian chicken population. The virus was recovered from necropsied birds from broiler and pullet flocks that suffered disease outbreaks tentatively diagnosed as infectious bursal disease. A sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay detected CAV DNA in tissues of necropsied birds. Restriction endonuclease analysis performed with the 733-bp PCR product and the Cfo I enzyme indicated at least two different CAVs were circulating among the Nigerian chicken population. Four isolates were obtained from pooled liver and thymus tissues using the MDCC-MSB1 cell line. These isolates were found to be antigenically closely related to the Cuxhaven-1 (Cux-1) reference strain of CAV when reacted with four monoclonal antibodies prepared against the Cux-1 virus. One of the isolates (isolate A) induced thymus atrophy, bone marrow aplasia, and low hematocrit values when inoculated into 1-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens. These findings not only demonstrate that CAV is present in Nigeria, but they also likely represent the first cell culture isolation of the virus in Africa.     

Further studies with a living attenuated vaccine against feline panleucopaenia

Seventy-two hours after the administration of a single dose of high passage living attenuated feline panleucopaenia vaccine, cats were protected against experimental challenge and even at 48 hours the effects of challenge were reduced. The antibody response persisted at high titre for at least 23 months. Antibody titres following vaccination were better than those associated with virulent virus. The attenuation of virulent feline panleucopaenia virus by serial passage in feline embryonic cell culture has produced a living vaccine which is both antigenic and immunogenic. Résumé. Soixante-douze heures après l'administration d'une seule dose du vaccin pour maladie des jeunes chats, vaccin vivant atténué à passage élévé, les chats étaient protégés contre des tests expérimentaux et les effets des tests étaient même réduits à 48 heures. La réponse anticorps a persisté à titre élévé pendant au moins 23 mois. Des titres anticorps suivant la vaccination étaient meilleurs que ceux associés avec le virus virulent. L'atténuation du virus virulent pour la maladie des jeunes chats, par passage en série dans la culture des cellules embryonnaires chez les félins, a produit un vaccin vivant qui est à la fois antisomatogtne et immunogène. Zusammenfassung. Zweiundsiebzig Stunden nach der Darreichung von hoher Passage leben-derattenuierter Katzenfieber- (Agranulozytose) Vakzine waren Katzen gegen experimentale Immunitätsteste geschützt und selbst nach 48 Stunden waren die Auswirkungen des Immunitätsteste reduziert. Die Schutzstoffreaktion hielt bei hohem Titer für wenigstens 23 Monate an. Schutzstofftiter die einer Impfung folgten waren besser als jene die mit virulentem Virus verbunden sind. Die Verminderung von virulentem Katzenfieber- (Agranulozytose) Virus durch Reihenpassage in katzenembryonaler Zellenkultur hat eine lebende Vakzine produziert, die antigen sowohl wie immunisierend ist.     

Biochemical and functional properties of a leucocidin produced by several strains of Fusobacterium necrophorum

A soluble exotoxin (a leucocidin) which was lethal to peripheral blood leucocytes from cattle, sheep, rabbits and man (in order of decreasing sensitivity) was elaborated by a variety of isolates of Fusobacterium necrophorum when the majority of organisms were present as filaments in liquid culture. Maximum production of the leucocidin was achieved by concentrations of bacteria equivalent to between 4 times 10' and 4 times 10^B short cells per ml of culture above which no further increase in titre was observed. The ability of different batches of medium to support production of leucocidin was reflected in their capacity to enable F. necrophorum to grow to this range of concentration. Prolonged culture of the organism, resulting in a decline to below 6 in the pH of the medium was associated with a depression in the titre of leucocidin, presumably due to Its inactiviation under these conditions.
The leucocidin was stable at 4°C for at least 30 days, to extremes of pH (4 to 9) for 1 h at room temperature, and showed maximum activity in assays conducted at 37°c at pH 7 to 8. The exotoxin was inactivated by heating at 56°C for 30 min and possessed a molecular weight around 250,000 to 300,000 as determined by gel filtration and membrane partition chromatography.     

Characterization of a Cell Line Derived from Inconnu

Abstract

Little is known about the diseases of the northern piscivorous salmonid inconnu Stenodus leucichthys (also known as sheefish). Fish health concerns surrounding transport and culture led to initiation of a cell line, now designated INEM-1, from inconnu embryonic tissue, to be used primarily for viral testing of inconnu. Cells were cultured at 16°C in Eagle's modified minimum essential medium with 10% fetal bovine serum. The fibroblastlike cells have now been passaged 57 times. Optimum growth occurs at 20°C, and doubling time is 1.5 d. Good growth also occurred at 16 and 24°C, but 30°C was rapidly lethal. Optimum density was 100,000 cells/ 35-mm-diameter plate, or 11,000 cells/cm². Chromosome analysis revealed a modal number of 76 chromosomes, two more than has been reported for blastulas of inconnu. The karyotype consists of 16 metacentric, 8 submetacentric, and 52 acrocentric chromosomes. Nucleolar organizing regions were identified on one chromosome pair. The INEM-1 cell line is susceptible to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus and infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus. No mycoplasmal contamination or indigenous viruses were detected.     

Optimization of a Plaque Neutralization Test (PNT) to Identify the Exposure History of Pacific Herring to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV)

Abstract

Methods for a plaque neutralization test (PNT) were optimized for the detection and quantification of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) neutralizing activity in the plasma of Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii. The PNT was complement dependent, as neutralizing activity was attenuated by heat inactivation; further, neutralizing activity was mostly restored by the addition of exogenous complement from specific-pathogen-free Pacific Herring. Optimal methods included the overnight incubation of VHSV aliquots in serial dilutions (starting at 1:16) of whole test plasma containing endogenous complement. The resulting viral titers were then enumerated using a viral plaque assay in 96-well microplates. Serum neutralizing activity was virus-specific as plasma from viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) survivors demonstrated only negligible reactivity to infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus, a closely related rhabdovirus. Among Pacific Herring that survived VHSV exposure, neutralizing activity was detected in the plasma as early as 37 d postexposure and peaked at approximately 64 d postexposure. The onset of neutralizing activity was slightly delayed in fish reared at 7.4°C relative to those in warmer temperatures (9.9°C and 13.1°C); however, neutralizing activity persisted for at least 345 d postexposure in all temperature treatments. It is anticipated that this novel ability to assess VHSV neutralizing activity in Pacific Herring will enable retrospective comparisons between prior VHS infections and year-class recruitment failures. Additionally, the optimized PNT could be employed as a forecasting tool capable of identifying the potential for future VHS epizootics in wild Pacific Herring populations.

Received November 7, 2016; accepted January 14, 2017 Published online April 4, 2017     

Inactivation of canine parvovirus by disinfectants and heat

The resistance of canine parvovirus (CPV) to inactivation by chemical and thermal means was investigated. CPV with and without extraneous protein was tested against 15 commonly used disinfectants at room temperature. The titres of CPV remaining after 5 minutes disinfection time were greater than or equal to those remaining after 30 minutes regardless of the presence or absence of protein. Disinfection of CPV was accomplished more quickly and at lower concentrations of disinfectants when extraneous protein was absent. Halogen compounds, aldehydes and sodium hydroxide were the most acceptable CPV disinfectants. The presence of protein interfered with the two most frequently recommended CPV disinfectants—sodium hypo-chlorite and formaldehyde. The resistance of CPV to inactivation by heat depended on the temperature and the duration of heating. Boiling (100°C) rapidly inactivated CPV. The virus was more resistant to lower temperatures. Detectable infectivity remained after 7 hours at 80°C and 72 hours at 56°C. At both 37°C and room temperature there was no significant change in infectivity titres over 72 hours.