Attenuation of turkey meningo-encephalitis virus in BHK21 cells

Turkey meningo-encephalitis virus was adapted to BHK21 cell culture. Cytopathic effects were characterized by rounding and detachment of cells within 48 hours. Attenuation was achieved by 41 successive passages in BHK21 cell cultures. Turkeys and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), kept under laboratory conditions and inoculated with the attenuated virus, did not develop symptoms of turkey meningo-encephalitis but reacted by the production of haemagglutination inhibition antibody. They resisted intracerebral challenge with pathogenic strains of turkey meningo-encephalitis virus.