Selection and validation of suitable reference gene for qPCR gene expression analysis in lamb testis cells under Sheep pox virus infection

•Housekeeping genes in the cell have consistent expression quality across a variety of environments.•HSP90 was found as stable and suitable gene in uninfected lamb testis cells.•At specific time points of the SPPV infection study, viz., 0.5h, 4.0h, 8.0h, and 12.0h, it was revealed that 18s RNA, HPRT, POLR2A, and B2M were the stable and suitable genes, respectively.•Overall, B2M was most suitable reference housekeeping gene in lamb testis cells during sheeppox virus infection.•Primary culture of lamb testis cells found clear andhealthy development at the fourth passage.