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Neonatal calf diarrhea induced by rotavirus
G Castrucci1, F Frigeri, M Ferrari
1Istituto di Malattie Infettive, Profilassi e Polizia Veterinaria dell'Università di Perugia, Italy.
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Rotavirus is a widespread cause of neonatal diarrhea in calves and rabbits. Vaccination of dams with an inactivated rotavirus vaccine and feeding colostrum to calves can prevent this disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Virology
- Neonatal Pathology
Background:
- Rotavirus infections are a significant cause of neonatal diarrhea in livestock.
- Understanding the epidemiology and antigenic relationships of rotaviruses is crucial for disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and etiological role of rotaviruses in neonatal diarrhea in Italian calves and rabbits.
- To compare the virulence and antigenic properties of rotavirus strains from different hosts.
- To evaluate the efficacy of maternal vaccination with colostrum in preventing rotavirus-induced diarrhea in calves.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of rotaviruses from affected calves and rabbits.
- Experimental infection of calves with rotaviruses from heterologous hosts (monkeys, pigs, rabbits).
- Cross-neutralization tests to compare antigenic relationships between rotavirus strains.
- Evaluation of passive immunity transfer through colostrum from vaccinated dams.
Main Results:
- Rotavirus infection was confirmed as widespread and etiologically linked to neonatal diarrhea in calves and rabbits.
- Differences in virulence among bovine rotaviruses were observed.
- Calves were susceptible to experimental infection with rotaviruses from monkeys, pigs, and rabbits.
- Simian and porcine rotavirus strains were antigenically similar to each other and related to bovine strains.
- A reciprocal antigenic correlation was found between bovine and rabbit rotavirus isolates.
- Maternal vaccination with an inactivated rotavirus vaccine effectively prevented neonatal diarrhea in calves fed colostrum.
Conclusions:
- Rotavirus is a significant pathogen causing neonatal diarrhea in calves and rabbits in Italy.
- Maternal immunization and passive antibody transfer via colostrum are effective strategies for preventing rotavirus-induced neonatal diarrhea in calves.