Partial characterization of a bovine group A rotavirus with a short genome electropherotype

Abstract

A group A rotavirus (ID isolate) recovered from a diarrheic beef calf possessed a short genome electropherotype. This short genome electropherotype was a stable characteristic of the ID isolate as it remained unchanged through 3 passages in gnotobiotic calves or through 19 passages in MA104 cell cultures. Subgroup analysis with monoclonal antibodies in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay established that the isolate was a subgroup 1 rotavirus. Neutralization tests demonstrated that this isolate was a distinct serotype from the human group A rotavirus S2 isolate (short genome electropherotype) and the turkey group A rotavirus 174 isolate (semi-short genome electropherotype). The ID isolate was pathogenic for 5-to 21-day-old gnotobiotic calves, inducing diarrhea within 48 h postinoculation.

Prevalence of group A and group B rotaviruses in the feces of neonatal dairy calves from California

“…The results from PAGE analysis showing that none of the 25 PAGE positive samples had the vaccine virus electropherotype agreed with a previous report which suggested that the vaccine was probably not the cause of rotaviral diarrhea, and it was frequently inefficacious in preventing the infections in the herds [14]. Short electropherotype rotaviruses similar to the rotaviruses previously reported in humans, rabbits, pigs and calves [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] were found in all day 1 PAGE positive and most of day 7 PAGE positive samples obtained from calves while long electropherotype rotaviruses were found at days 7 and 14. Regardless of their electropherotypes, the presence of these short and long electropherotype rotaviruses might be due to their antigenic difference from common rotaviruses contaminating the farm environment; thus, they were able to evade passive immunity.…”

“…The high incidence of short electropherotype group A rotavirus in calves was unexpected. A few cases of short electropherotype and a mixture of short and long electropherotype rotaviruses were previously reported in diarrheic calves [12,13,15,16].…”

“…Super-short electropherotype rotavirus isolated from a calf, however, was demonstrated to be the result of the altered mobility of genome segment 1 I which migrated between genome segments 9 and 10 [12]. Short electropherotypes have been recognized in mice, rabbits, calves, humans, pigs and birds [5,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Non-group A rotaviruses lack the 7-8-9 triplet pattern at area III found in group A viruses [3,8].…”

Isolation of a bovine rotavirus with a "super-short" RNA electrophoretic pattern from a calf with diarrhea

“…Workers Animal Diseases, Chicago, Ill., abstract no. 84, 1987) and Idaho (35). The latter virus isolate from Idaho (35) was shown to be distinct serotypically from the NCDV group of bovine rotaviruses.…”

Rotavirus gene structure and function.

“…Since these distinct RNA patterns can arise by different mechanisms, RNA profiles cannot be used as the sole criterion for classification of a virus strain in a specific group (i.e., A to F). Instead, RNA profiles combined with group A ELISA reactivity should be used for preliminary characterization of non-group A rotaviruses (96,249,309 (1,22,41,117,229,298,325,333,341). However, because RNA patterns usually remain constant for individual virus strains, RNA analysis is useful for molecular epidemiology studies to monitor virus outbreaks and transmission.…”