Throat Samples Research Articles

Primary isolation of influenza A, B, and C viruses in monkey kidney tissue cultures.

Summary1. Influenza virus isolations were attempted simultaneously in monkey kidney tissue cultures and 11-day embryonated eggs from 78 throat samples taken during the 1955 epidemic in the Washington, D.C. area. Higher percentage of influenza B isolations was made in monkey kidney tissue cultures (21.8%) than in embryonated eggs (1.3%). Influenza C and Type 3 APC viruses were also recovered in the monkey kidney tissue cultures from some of these samples. Influenza A virus and influenza C virus were also isolated in monkey kidney cultures from other samples, but whether this method offers a better medium than the usual embryonated eggs was not determined for these types. 2. Cytopathogenic changes in monkey kidney cultures produced by influenza A, B, and C viruses appeared to be similar. These changes were readily recognized, and were associated with the production of hemagglutinins. 3. The use of monkey kidney cultures offered distinct advantages over chick embryos: (a) current strains of influenza B virus...