Explain in detail the different methods of viral inoculation.
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that depend on the host for their survival. For their replication, they depend on living cells because they cannot grow in non-living culture media or on agar plates alone. Viral inoculation is the process of introduction of the virus into the living organisms to identify and isolate viruses in clinical samples, to prepare viruses for vaccine production, and to do research on the viral structure, replication, genetics, and effects on the host cell.
Generally, there are 3 methods that are used for viral inoculation.
1. Inoculation of the virus into animals:
Viruses are inoculated in laboratory animals such as mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and primates. Animals used must be healthy and free from communicable diseases. Suckling mice that are less than 48 hours old are used. These animals are suspectable togavirus and coxsackie viruses. Viruses are inoculated by intracerebral, intranasal, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous routes. After inoculation, the virus replicates in the host and develops the disease. Then animals are observed for symptoms of disease and death. Then this virus is isolated and purified from the tissues of these animals. For the study of the yellow fever virus, human volunteers are used for first live inoculation.
2. Inoculation of the virus into embryonated egg:
This method depends on the type of egg used for inoculation. Chick embryo of 7 to 12 days old is used form inoculation.
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