A. Geyer et al., A MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF PORCINE ROTAVIRUSES, Journal of the South African Veterinary Medical Association, 66(4), 1995, pp. 202-205
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 far
m in the Northern Transvaal. The stool specimens were examined by a co
mmercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Rotavirus EIA, IDL, Jerusa
lem). In total rotavirus antigen was detected in 24% of the litters by
the ELISA, which is directed at the group A rotavirus antigen. Rotavi
rus was found to occur throughout the year and predominantly in piglet
s 4 weeks old. Polyacrylamide electrophoretic analysis of the viral RN
A genomes showed the presence of four distinct strains of Group A rota
viruses circulating on this farm. This study highlights the natural di
versity of rotavirus strains circulating on a single farm and may indi
cate the importance of rotavirus infection in piglets with diarrhoea i
n South Africa.