Benefits and risks due to animal serum used in cell culture production

Infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and other viruses is frequent in the bovine population. In utero infection leads to virus and antibody contamination of foetal and other serum used in cell culture production. The use of contaminated cells for vaccine production may result in contaminated vaccines, which may lead to seroconversion or disease in the vaccinated animal. Contaminated serum or cell cultures may also interfere with the diagnosis of viral infections. Methods for the detection of BVDV and other viruses in serum, cell cultures, seed viruses and vaccines at the CVB-L, and the frequency of detection are described. Reasons for continued use of serum in cell culture production, and the risks of using serum, are discussed.