title: A molecular epidemiological study of porcine rotaviruses.
abstract: Diarrhoea in the piglet can lead to stunted growth and neonatal death, with important implications for the pig farmer. During 1993, a pilot study was initiated to monitor the epidemiology of rotavirus infection in piglets with diarrhoea. Bimonthly diarrhoeal faecal specimens were collected from scouring piglets less than 6 weeks of age on a pig farm in the Northern Transvaal. The stool specimens were examined by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Rotavirus EIA, IDL, Jerusalem). In total, rotavirus antigen was detected in 24% of the litters by the ELISA, which is directed at the group A rotavirus antigen. Rotavirus was found to occur throughout the year and predominantly in piglets 4 weeks old. Polyacrylamide electrophoretic analysis of the viral RNA genomes showed the presence of four distinct strains of Group A rotaviruses circulating on this farm. This study highlights the natural diversity of rotavirus strains circulating on a single farm and may indicate the importance of rotavirus infection in piglets with diarrhoea in South Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sebata
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peenze
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D015994:Incidence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral