Development of two brain cell lines from goldfish and silver crucian carp and viral susceptibility to Cyprinid herpesivirus-2.

Two cell lines were established from silver crucian carp and goldfish brain tissue and used as the biological tool for monitoring viral diseases. Characterization including optimal growth kinetics study, karyotyping, and mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genotyping were performed. The primary cultures of these cells were generated by the explant technique using the medium 199 supplemented with 20 % fetal bovine serum and epidermal/fibroblast growth factors. The cells grew over the range of 15 to 30°C, while the optimal temperature for culture was 30°C. The cell lines were maintained in vitro and could be subcultured over 40 times. Following cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen, thawed cells exhibit viability of > 90 % after a 13-mo period of storage. The chromosome count of two cell lines were determined to be 154 and 110, respectively, which agreed well with triploid crucian carp brain cells and diploid goldfish brain cells. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequence analysis indicated 100 % and 94% match with known crucian carp mitochondrial DNA sequences. Cytopathic effect was continuously observed in both cell lines over 10 passages after inoculation with tissue homogenates of sick or died goldfish from cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) outbreaks. These newly established cell lines could be a diagnostic tool for viral diseases in fish species.