5. Candling eggs

Introduction

Candling is the process of holding a strong light above or below the egg to observe the embryo. A candling lamp consists of a strong electric bulb covered by a plastic or aluminium container that has a handle and an aperture. The egg is placed against this aperture and illuminated by the light. If you do not have a candling lamp, improvise. Try using a torch.

Candling is done in a darkened room or in an area shielded by curtains. Figure 6 shows the candling booth at the John Francis Virology Laboratory.

Determining the viability of the embryo

Under the candling lamp, the embryo appears as a dark shadow with the head as a dark spot. Healthy embryos will respond to the light by moving. Sometimes the movement is very sluggish and it can take 30 to 40 seconds for the embryo to move when held under the candling lamp. This indicates the embryo is not healthy and the egg should be discarded.

Look carefully at the blood vessels. They are well defined in a healthy embryo. After an embryo has died, the blood vessels start to break down. They then appear as streaks under the shell when viewed under the candling lamp. Candling will also reveal cracks in the eggshells. Eggs with cracked shells should be discarded.

Infertile eggs: These are easy to detect, as the egg is clear. Discard

Early deaths: The embryo has developed for several days and then died. Candling will reveal a small dark area and disrupted blood vessels. Often deteriorating blood vessels will appear as a dark ring around the egg. Discard.

Late Deaths: These are often difficult to tell apart from a viable embryo at the same stage of development. Look for the absence of movement and the breakdown of the blood vessels. Discard

Viable Embryos: These move in response to the light and have well defined blood vessels. Mark the air sac and the inoculation site and then return the eggs to the incubator ready for inoculation.

Figure 3: Features of embryonated eggs visible during candling

Figure 3. - 1. Infertile Egg

Figure 3. - 2. Early Death of Embryo

Embryo is small and does not move. Blood vessels have broken down.

Figure 3 - 3. Late Death of Embryo

Blood vessels may have started to break down. Embryo does not move.

Figure 3 - 4. Viable Embryo

Strong healthy blood vessels. Embryo moves.

Marking the inoculation site:

1. Hold the blunt end of the egg against the aperture of the candling lamp and note the position of the head of the embryo.

2. Turn the egg a quarter turn away from the head.

3. Draw a line on the shell marking the edge of the air sac.

4. Draw an X approximately 2 mm above this line.

5. The X marks the inoculation site.

Note:

In some eggs the air sac will have not developed on the blunt end but half way down the egg. These eggs are not suitable for vaccine production. They can be used for inoculation during routine titrations to establish infectivity titres.

Figure 4: Marking the inoculation site

Figure 5: Candling an egg

Figure 6: A candling booth