Rapid diagnosis of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis by fluorescence microscopy.

Goat Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) antiserum and normal serum were conjugated and evaluated for staining sensitivity and specificity. Cross-staining with either eastern or western equine encephalomyelitis virus-infected cells did not occur. The baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cell line when combined with highly specific VEE conjugate detected 100 medium suckling mouse intracerebral lethal doses (suckling mouse LD-50/IC) of the 1B subtype of VEE virus per milliliter of equine tissue suspension. Conjugated goat antiserum was assayed for sensitivity for detection of VEE virus-infected equine serums and tissue suspensions. The BHK-21 cell line was superior to either primary duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cells or African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells for propagating the GJ9-1BJ subtype of VEE virus.