ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF VIRUSES FROM PIGLET ENTERITIS

Out of 156 samples from piglet enteritis 21 samples (13.4%) were posit ive for viruses, 16 isolates (10.26%) belonged to rotaviruses and the remaining 5 were enteroviruses (3.21%). The viruses were successfully cultivated in pig kidney cell-cultures. Pancreatin was needed for the growth of rotaviruses. Increase in titres from third to fifth passage level indicated the adaptation of viruses. Rotaviruses produced granul ation as the main characteristic CPE, whereas rounding of cells and sh rinkage of infected monolayers were recorded in enteroviruses. Rotavir uses were more thermostable than enteroviruses as they retained some r esidual infectivity on exposure to 60-degrees-C for 30 min. They were, however, completely inactivated at 60-degrees-C within 1 hr. Effect o f pH was almost similar for both the viruses. They could withstand pH 3, 5 and pH 8 though log 3 fall and log 1 fall were observed at pH 8 f or enteroviruses and rotaviruses respectively. Ether and chloroform ha d no effect on enteroviruses. Chloroform had little effect on rotaviru ses. Both the viruses were RNA type as their replication was not inhib ited by IUdR or FUdR. Rotaviruses agglutinated only pig red blood cell s. Rotaviral isolates were finally confirmed by immunodiffusion test. They produced single precipitin lines with OSU group A rotaviral antis erum and hence designated as group A rotaviruses.