Coronavirus as agent of neonatal calf diarrhea in southern Chile

Neonatal calf diarrhea is one of the most serious problems of cattle industry all over the world. Although the aetiology is complex, it is possible to assess that viruses play a very important role. During an investigation to study the importance of Rotavirus in enteric problems in calves and piglets, it was possible to demonstrate the presence, for the first time in southern Chile, of Coronavirus-like particles in a faecal sample of a 15 day old calf by means of electron microscopy. The importance of this diagnosis and some clinical characteristics of the disease are briefly discussed. Finally, the need for more research on this complex subject is recognized.