Detection of rotavirus antigen in diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic piglets in Nigeria.
Faecal samples from 96 piglets with acute gastroenteritis and 41 samples from non-diarrhoeic piglets were investigated for porcine rotavirus (PRV) antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PRV was detected in 43 of 96 (44.8%) in the diarrhoeic group whilst none of the samples in the non-diarrhoeic group was positive for PRV (P less than 0.01). Age distribution of infection showed a higher infection rate of 30.2% in piglets aged 1-3 weeks, which was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than in piglets aged 4-6 weeks, where the infection rate was 14.6 per cent. No PRV antigen was detected in diarrhoeic piglets above 6 weeks of age. Titration of 10 randomly selected ELISA-positive samples showed titres ranging from 512 to greater than or equal to 4.096.
Atii
D J
DJ
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Ojeh
C K
CK
Durojaiye
O A
OA
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D009549:Nigeria; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral