Varianytsia V. Preservation of rabies virus industrial strains at low temperatures

The research object was an influence of storage at different low temperatures, freeze-drying and composition of protective media on the rabies virus industrial strains infectious activity. The purpose of this study was to study the influence of the composition of protective media, temperature regimes and storage periods at low temperatures and after lyophilization on the rabies virus industrial strains infectious activity. Research methods were as follows: cryobiological, cultural, virological and statistical analysis of the obtained data. The composition of protective media for long-term storage of rabies virus CVS and L. Pasteur strains at temperatures of –80 and –196ºC (the observation period is 24 months) was experimentally substantiated, it was growth medium supplemented with 5% sucrose, 5% glycerol and mixtures thereof. For storage of these strains for up to 6 months at –20ºC it is recommended to use a growth medium with the addition of 2.5–10% sucrose or glycerol. It was found that the maximum preservation of rabies virus after freeze-drying and subsequent storage for 24 months at 5, –20, –80ºС was provided by the growth medium with the addition of a mixture of 1% gelatin and 5% sucrose.