Antigenicity of pseudorabies virus, following inactivation by gamma irradiation

Pseudorabies virus was inactivated in cell culturing fluid by means of gamma irradiation, with radiation doses depending on time. The process was found to be affected by the hardware used. It depended on radiation dose and temperature and occurred as a first-order reaction. Virus inactivation was confirmed by attempts to let the virus grow in cell cultures. Rabbits never contracted the disease, following injection of inactivated virus. Both rabbits and pigs formed antibodies, following two injections of inactivated virus, which was positively confirmed by means of the serum neutralisation test. (author)