Cell culture studies with a cytopathic bovine rotavirus

The growth characteristics in MDBK cells of a calf rotavirus isolated in Northern Ireland are described. Of a range of cell cultures tested, the virus grew in secondary bovine kidney and MDBK cells, but consistently produced a CPE only in MDBK cells. The CPE consisted of cytoplasmic vacuolation, development of eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions, and degeneration and detachment of cells from the monolayer. The onset of CPE was more rapid and its effects more severe in rolled cultures than stationary cultures. Immunofluorescent staining showed that the rotavirus was antigenically unrelated to avian and mammalian reoviruses. There was no significant difference in virus growth over the pH range 6.5 to 8.4.