[Structure of calf rotavirus. 1. Hydrodynamic and electron microscopic parameters of the virus]

Rotavirus was isolated from the faeces of calves afflicted with diarrhoea and purified. Isolation was preceded by chloroform treatment, oxide wax A-precipitation, as well as differential and density gradient centrifugation. Virus density in CsCl solution was 1.38 +/- 0.01 g/ml. Cell culture virus prepared without chloroform (Nebraska-type isolation) would be 1.37 +/- 0.01 g/ml in density, for comparison. The mean capsid diameters measured were 55 nm and 60 nm, sedimentation coefficents being between 450 and 478 S. The mean core diameter was 40 nm. Structure of capsid is discussed.