[Properties of the rabies virus long persisting in cell cultures]

Properties of rabies virus (RV) persisting in chronically infected cultures (CIC): HEp-2--RV and BHK-RV were studied. RV from the HEp-2-RV system retained its pathogenicity for mice for more than 3 years of observation. RV from the BHK-RV system lost this property after 50 passages in CIC. Both RV variants from CIC formed plaques in CER cells, showed marked immunogenic activity in mice, had no interferon-inducing activity in BHK-21 cells, and were not temperature-sensitive. Electron microscopic examinations of CIC culture fluids showed virions of bullet-like, oval, or spherical shapes.