Characterization of encephalomyocarditis virus isolated from aborted swine fetuses

Characteristics of 2 encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) isolates (MN-25 and MN-30) recovered from aborted swine fetuses were examined along with 2 other swine isolates (NVSL-MDV and NVSL-PR) and a reference ATCC strain (VR-129). All 5 EMCV isolates were found to be serologically related by cross testing, using serum neutralization and fluorescent antibody assays. Hemagglutination (HA) properties of the 5 isolates were compared, using 5 diluents. The MN-25 and NVSL-MDV strains had HA activity with guinea pig RBC in all 5 diluents, whereas MN-30, NVSL-PR, and VR-129 had HA activity only in KCl-borate buffer. The HA ability with RBC of various animal species was examined, using KCl-borate diluent. All virus isolates had high HA titer (1:512 to 1:2,048) with guinea pig, rat, and horse RBC and lower HA titer (1:16 to 1:64) with sheep RBC. The MN-25 and NVSL-MDV isolates agglutinated dogs RBC, whereas MN-30, NVSL-PR, and VR-129 strains did not. Viral replication was evident in 8 of 10 cell lines tested, although infectivity titers of each virus varied by cell line used. Plaque-forming ability was similar for all 5 isolates, but plaque size was different by virus and cell culture used. Virus isolates were found to be stable after being heated at 56 C and subjected to a wide range of pH. A viral polypeptide pattern difference for all 5 isolates was not found by use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)