Establishment of a brain cell line obtained from hybrids of Channa argus × Channa maculata for the detection of tilapia lake virus

A brain cell line (CAMB) derived from hybrid snakehead (Channa argus (♂) × Channa maculata (♀)) was established by trypsin and collagenase combined digestion. The culturing conditions and cell biological characteristics were systematically studied. For growth of the cells, M199 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum was used and at 27 °C incubated. Based on morphological analysis, CAMB cells were confirmed to be epithelial. The cell line has been subcultured more than 80 times since its initial primary culture. Chromosome analysis revealed that CAMB cells had an abnormal chromosome number 2n = 64, whereas the chromosome number in the hybrid snakehead was 45. The suitability of CAMB for tilapia lake virus (TiLV) was demonstrated. A CPE was observed after infection with TiLV-2017A. The highest TiLV titer was observed after 12 days post infection (dpi) and reached 107.2 TCID50/mL. The virus replication was confirmed by electron microscopic observations. Additionally, immunofluorescence assay confirmed the presence of TiLV-2017A after infection of CAMB. Therefore, CAMB cells can be a useful tool for the investigation of the pathogenesis of the TiLV induced disease in tilapia.