Biological characteristic of Nigerian strains of West Nile virus in mice and cell cultures.

The biological characteristic in mice and cell cultures of 7 strains of West Nile (WN) virus isolated in Nigeria were studied. The pattern of virus development in most organs of mice infected with two of the seven strains tested was identical, while it varied with the remaining five strains. All 7 strains of WN virus multiplied with a cytopathic effect (CPE) in the four cell cultures examined.