Demonstration of rotavirus antigen in trypsin-digested paraffin tissue sections by immunofluorescence

Trypsin-digested paraffin tissue sections were used to demonstrate rotavirus particles in small intestinal epithelial cells of dirrheic neonatal calves, using direct fluorescent-antibody assay. The results were compared with other techniques to demonstrate rotavirus particles in tissue sections by immunofluorescence. Enzyme treatment of deparaffinized tissue sections gave excellent results with distinct specific fluorescence and minimal background. Prior staining of the tissue section with Mayer's hematoxylin made simultaneous observation of the same tissue section by light and ultraviolet microscopies possible.