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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to find changes in the biological properties of camelpox virus upon serial passages in Vero culture. Pathogenic camelpox virus (CMLV/WT) was serially propagated for hundred passages in confluent monolayers of Vero cells. Viruses from passages fifty (CMLV/50) and hundred (CMLV/100) were compared to CMLV/WT in terms of CPE, pock lesion and ability to induce lesions in rabbit’s skin. When replicating in old Vero cells at 37?C, CMLV/50 and CMLV/100 were distinguishable from CMLV/WT by appearance (24hrs), complete destruction of cell sheet (48hrs) and disappearance of syncytia and comets. Cell adapted virus replication on Vero cells at 35?C differed in appearance of CPE (24hrs), complete destruction within (48hrs), rounding of cells and syncytia. Inoculation of cell adapted strains on chick embryos induced larger (0.2-4mm), white opaque pock lesions without death. Mild local lesions were noted when rabbits were scarified by passaged viruses. Cell passaged strains displayed slight deviation in the properties of the virus.