Isolation, cultivation and haemadsorption of buffalo pox virus on BHK-21 cell line from Dhule epidemic (Western India).

An epidemic of buffalo pox infection in buffaloes, white cattle, horses, goats and human beings in the Dhule district of Maharashtra State (India) during December, 1975 to March, 1976 is reported. Buffalo pox virus from this epidemic has been propagated in BHK-21 cell line directly from the skin scab materials collected from those animals in phosphate glycerine buffer. A specific cytopathic effect (CPE) produced in these cell lines was differentiated from the non-specific CPE by the demonstration of the characteristic 'Rosette' or 'Sun flower' like haemadsorption with 0.4% fowl erythrocytes. The CPE started appearing as early as 18 hours and the detachment and peeling off the cells from the glass surface were noted on the 4th day onwards. Eosinophilic inclusion bodies with giant cells (multi-nucleated) formation and fusion of the cells were also observed with a few stellate cells.