Cultures of established cell lines as well as primary cell cultures may be used.

Established cell lines or cultures of primary cells are used, e.g. Chinese hamster cells and human lymphocytes.

Virus isolation is based on the inoculation of sample material on susceptible primary cell cultures of porcine origin, monocytes and macrophages cells. The preferred samples for isolation of the ASF virus are whole blood and leucocytes obtained from non-coagulated blood samples or the organs referred to in section A(1). If the ASF virus is present in the sample, it will replicate in the cells and a characteristic cytopathic effect will be produced in the infected cells.

The history of animal or cell passage material should be provided.

A variety of cell lines, strains or primary cell cultures, including human cells, may be used

The in vitro chromosome aberration test may employ cultures of established cells lines, cell strains or primary cell cultures.

for viruses and viroids, cell culture studies using purified infective virus and primary cell cultures of mammalian, avian and fish cells

Virus isolation is based on the inoculation of sample material on susceptible primary cell cultures of porcine origin, monocytes and macrophages cells.

Data as outlined under point 5.1.1 and cell culture studies using purified infective virus and primary cell cultures of mammalian, avian and fish cells

However, where such samples are not available or not suitable for transport, animal passage material, obtained from the same host species, or low passage cell culture material is acceptable.

The simultaneous inoculation of a porcine cell line and one of the above-mentioned tissue culture systems (preferably primary bovine thyroid cells) is a useful guide as to whether vesicular samples contain swine vesicular disease virus or foot and mouth disease virus, as the former will only grow in cells of porcine origin.