The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine liver tissue from patients with cholestatic disease for the presence of group C rotavirus RNA. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for genes 5 and 6 was used, and the PCR products were subjected to liquid hybridization with a 32P-labeled probe. A second amplification with nested primers was also used. Samples from 32 subjects (20 with biliary atresia or choledochal cyst and 12 controls) were tested. Ten of 20 biliary atresia patients were positive for group C rotavirus RNA; no controls were positive (P < .003). Three of the positive patients were positive for both genes 5 and 6. Six of the 10 had > 1 sample that was positive. These data suggest a possible relationship between group C rotavirus and extrahepatic biliary atresia in the 10 patients in whom virus RNA was detected.

ABSTRACT. Human Bifidobacterium sp strain bifidum (B. bifidum) was administered to BALB/c lactating mice (n = 58) and their litters (n = 327 pups) to evaluate the ingested strain's adherent properties and ability to inhibit murine rotavirus (MRV) infection. ELISA and anaerobic bacteriologic techniques were used to measure MRV shedding and colonization of Bifidobacterium in the small intestine. The biologic mechanisms underlying the interactions between the normal microbial flora and infectious challenge by enteric pathogens remain poorly understood. A number of virulence

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The effects of in utero exposure to the fescue endophyte Acremonium coenophialum on neonatal Cortisol, thyroid hormone, and progestagen concentrations were examined. Blood samples were collected at birth from 12 mares and foals exposed to the fescue endophyte A. coenophialum (E +; mean gestation, 358 days) and 6 mares and foals grazing endophyte-free (E -) fescue (mean gestation, 334 days). The plasma was assayed for tri-iodothyronine (T 3 ), thyroxine (T 4 ), reverse T 3 (rT 3 ), Cortisol, ACTH, and total progestagens by standard RIA. The maternal total progestagen concentration was significantly lower (p < 0.01; 4.7 ng/ml) in mares grazing E + fescue compared to mares grazing E-fescue (22.4 ng/ml). In the foals exposed in utero to endophyte, total progestagens, Cortisol, and T 3 concentrations were significantly lower (p < 0.01; 6.7 ± 2.2 vs. 42.4 ± 8.5 ng/ml progestagens; 145.3 ± 23.1 vs. 360.0 ± 21.4 ng/ml T 3 ; and 4.1 ± 2.1 vs. 59.5 ± 6 . 1 ng/ml Cortisol) than corresponding concentrations in foals not exposed to endophyte. ACTH concentrations in foals that died acutely after delivery were significantly lower at birth than values in foals that survived (37.6 ± 16.47 vs. 291.4 ± 69.8 ng/ml). Umbilical vein progestagen concentrations did not differ between treatment groups (19.7 ± 3.2 vs. 18.3 ±2.7 ng/ml). In foals that survived the natal period, there was a significant increase in Cortisol, T 3 , and progestagens from birth to 12 h of age. In foals that succumbed within the first 24 h, no increase in progestagens, T 3 , or Cortisol was noted. These results demonstrate that exposure of pregnant mares to A. coenophialum-infected tall fescue results in altered neonatal adrenocortical and thyroid hormone production. Placental steroidogenesis as evidenced by umbilical vein progestagen concentrations appears unaffected. Therefore, we suggest that prolonged gestation and fetal dysmaturity in fescue toxicoses results from abnormal adrenal and thyroid hormone production by the late-term fetus.

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