[Effect of host cells on the course of chronic rabies virus infection in cell cultures]

Different patterns of rabies virus infection were observed in BHK-21/13S and HEp-2 cell cultures at late stages of persistent infections. The infection of BHK-21/13S cells was characterized by periodical increases and declines in the portion of the antigen-containing cells (from 100% to less than 1%) and low infectivity titers which did not correspond to fluctuations in the antigen production and occasional resistance to challenge with vesicular stomatitis virus. In contrast, persistently infected HEp-2 cell culture exhibited a more constant course of antigen production which never reached extreme points; the infectivity titers generally correlated with the portion of the antigen-containing cells. Cultivation in the presence of antirabies serum did not "cure" either of the cultures.