Page 277 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

246 Susan C. Cork and Roy Halliwell

Laboratory animals Cell culture
Animal inoculation was the first method used There are many techniques for the cultivation
for virus cultivation and for many years this was of viruses in cell cultures in the laboratory (in
the only means of virus propagation. However, vitro) and the choice of media and conditions will
except for the use of embryonated chicken depend on the cell type and cell line selected.
eggs, concerns about animal welfare have led This in turn is determined by the nature of the
to the development of alternative virus isola- virus to be cultivated. The labware used for cul-
tion methods such as cell culture. Animals are tivating tissue cells must be absolutely clean and
now rarely used for the purposes of diagnostic free from contaminants and toxic substances
testing although they are still used to determine and cell culture specific disposable labware are
the virulence of some strains of viruses (for readily available. The chemicals and distilled
example, highly pathogenic avian influenza and water used for cleaning labware should be de-
the Paramyxovirus (APMV-1) responsible for ionized. The various manipulations required for
Newcastle disease). Laboratory animals are also handling cells and media should be carried out
used in scientific research and for the production in a room with restricted access that is free from
of some biological materials for laboratory tests, dust and air currents. The equipment required
that is, antisera, compliment and so on. The use for cell culture is expensive and includes level
and maintenance of laboratory animal colonies two biosafety cabinets, cell culture incubators,
is beyond the scope of this book and will not be centrifuges with temperature control, water
discussed further here. baths and inverted microscopes (Figure 4.22).
All instruments and other equipment must be
sterile and handled in such a manner as to avoid
contamination.

Figure 4.22 Essential equipment required to establish a laboratory with cell culture facility. (a) Biosafety
cabinet, (b) cell culture incubator, (c) inverted microscope, (d) centrifuge, and (e) water bath.

Vet Lab.indb 246 26/03/2019 10:25