DAO 44:183-190 (2001)  -  doi:10.3354/dao044183

ABSTRACT: A new cell line designated TO which provides a high yield of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) has been established. The cells originate from head kidney leukocytes isolated from Atlantic salmon and grow well at 20°C in EMEM with 5% CO₂ and without CO₂ supplement in HMEM. The cells have at present been passed more than 150 times and no changes in morphology, growth or virus production have been observed. The virus infection results in cytopathic effects (CPE) within 9 d, and the virus titre obtained from centrifuged and filtrated cell lysates, measured as TCID₅₀, was about 10^9.1 ml^-1. The virus isolated from lysates of infected cells by a sucrose gradient provided purified ISAV when examined by silver stained SDS-PAGE. Salmon injected with diluted virus supernatant showed mortalities, hematocrit values and clinical signs in accordance with infectious salmon anaemia.

KEY WORDS: Cell line · Salmon · Infectious salmon anaemia virus, ISAV · Fish virus