Why viruses are grown in chicken egg?

Viruses are often grown in chicken eggs because they provide a convenient and reliable way to propagate and amplify the virus. The use of chicken eggs for virus culture has several advantages:

Sterility: Chicken eggs are naturally sterile, making them an ideal environment for growing viruses without the risk of contamination from other microorganisms.

Embryonated eggs: Embryonated eggs, which contain a developing embryo, provide a rich source of nutrients and growth factors necessary for virus replication. The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the embryo is particularly suitable for virus growth, as it is highly vascularized and offers a large surface area for virus attachment and replication.

Ease of inoculation: Chicken eggs are relatively easy to inoculate with viruses. The virus can be injected directly into the allantoic cavity, the amniotic cavity, or onto the CAM. This simplicity facilitates the handling and manipulation of the virus during the culture process.

Large-scale production: Chicken eggs allow for large-scale production of viruses. This is important for the production of vaccines and other viral products, as it enables the generation of sufficient quantities of the virus for research, diagnostic, and therapeutic purposes.

Cost-effectiveness: Compared to other methods of virus culture, such as cell culture or animal models, chicken eggs are relatively cost-effective. They are readily available, affordable, and require minimal specialized equipment or infrastructure.

Safety: Chicken eggs are generally considered safe for virus culture. The use of embryonated eggs poses minimal risk of infection to laboratory personnel, as the embryo provides a contained environment for virus growth.

In summary, the use of chicken eggs for virus culture offers several advantages, including sterility, ease of inoculation, large-scale production, cost-effectiveness, and safety. These factors make chicken eggs a valuable tool for virologists and researchers studying viruses and developing vaccines and antiviral therapies.