The replication of virulent and attenuated strains of African swine fever virus in porcine macrophages

The replication of virulent and attenuated strains of African swine fever virus (ASFV) was studied in pure cultures of swine macrophages. To ensure complete destruction of the macrophage monolayers about 50--100 times more virulent ASFV was needed than attenuated virus although both isolates could be used to establish persistently infected cultures. Interferon did not appear to influence virus yields from such cultures. Fluorescent and electron microscopy studies of infected macrophages suggested that the cycle of infection of the two isolates was different.