Comparison of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus growth in media supplemented with fetal bovine serum or a serum replacement

Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Medical Research Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA. Commercially available serum replacements are often used in cell culture as a cheaper and less variable substitute for fetal bovine serum (FBS). The growth of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates in CRL11171 cells maintained in a medium supplemented with FBS was compared with virus propagation in the same cell line maintained in the same medium with a serum replacement. The PRRSV replicated significantly better when the cell culture medium was supplemented with FBS. The results of this study have implications for the use of serum replacement-supplemented medium for PRRSV diagnosis by virus isolation.